Fixed-mould Papermaking Method and Movable-mould Papermaking Method:Two Different Papermaking Method Systems Conserved in Mainland China

In order to research on the origin of China's papermaking methods, this paper, based on historical and field surveymaterials, is to make a technology analysis of ten China's minority nationalities' traditional papermaking methods. After doinganalysis and comparison of the papermaking process steps, I concluded that there are two different traditional papermaking methodsystems in China: one is the movable-mould papermaking method, the other is the fixed-mould papermaking method. These twopapermaking methods are totally different in technical process and key processes, which lead the products to own obliviouslydifferent traits, so these two methods belong to different papermaking method systems. Through the investigation and analysis ofancient papers of Shaanxi, Gansu, Xinjiang province, we discovered that these two papermaking methods have different origins androutes of spreading abroad. Fixed-mould papermaking method belongs to non-Cailun's system, while moveable-mould papermakingmethod belongs to Cailun's system. The relics of these two papermaking methods have different geographical distributions.