한국 고대의 종이 제작과 유통 - 신라를 중심으로 - = The Production and Distribution of Paper in Ancient Korea: Focusing on Silla

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The introduction of papermaking to ancient Korea is thought to have begun in the late 2nd century CE, when a papermaking workshop was established in Lelang Commandery, located in present-day northwestern Korea, under Han Chinese rule. However, the techniques brought to Lelang did not immediately spread to the emerging Korean states. While archaeological excavations in the Samhan region during the Proto-Three Kingdoms period have uncovered a variety of writing tools—such as brushes, inkstones, ring-pommel knives (sacdo), portable whetstones, and seals—indicating the use of wooden tablets and other materials for official documentation, no paper artifacts or evidence of paper use have been found. This absence suggests that papermaking and paper usage had not yet been adopted in Korea prior to the formation of its ancient states.
Goguryeo was the first Korean kingdom to adopt papermaking, likely as a result of frequent contact and exchange with Lelang Commandery. By the mid- to late 4th century, it had begun producing paper domestically for official documents and the publication of Confucian and Buddhist texts, following the introduction of Buddhism and the compilation of national histories. This development is supported by depictions of paper documents in the murals of Anak Tomb No. 3 and the Tonggu Sasinchon tomb. Additionally, Buddhist scripture fragments unearthed at temples in Cheongam-ri Fortress and Daeseongsan Fortress indicate that Goguryeo primarily manufactured maji(hemp paper).
Baekje also acquired papermaking techniques through exchanges with Lelang or the southern Chinese dynasties. By the late 4th century, it had developed the capacity to meet increasing demands for official documents, diplomatic correspondence, and the transcription of Confucian and Buddhist texts. Evidence of skilled paper artisans from the former Baekje region—recorded in the colophon of the Avataṃsaka Sūtra at Hwaeomsa Temple—suggests that high-quality mulberry paper(jeoji) was being produced by the 6th to 7th centuries.
Although Silla was the last of the Korean kingdoms to adopt papermaking, it saw notable advancements in paper craftsmanship by the mid-6th century, driven by the large-scale publication of government documents and Buddhist and Confucian texts. This is supported by the discovery of wooden tablets at the Wolseong moat site, as well as high-quality official documents and sutras produced on fine mulberry paper(jeoji). In addition, numerous surviving artifacts and records—such as paper tablets and the Silla Transcription of the Avataṃsaka Sūtra (The Flower Garland Sutra)—offer valuable insights into the quality and dimensions of paper, the official ranks held by papermaking artisans, and the broader processes of paper production and distribution in Silla.
Papermaking in Silla typically began in the lunar months of September to October— just before the harvest of mulberry trees—and continued through February of the following year. Given the high value and rarity of paper, papermaking artisans(jijakin) were held in high esteem, with some attaining prestigious fifth-rank official positions. Silla produced both high-grade jeoji(mulberry paper) and maji(hemp paper), which were distributed in various grades and colors through designated paper markets(jijeon or cheojeon). For large-scale demands, such as the production of Buddhist scriptures, temples often collaborated with nearby papermaking workshops. Paper sheets were produced in standard full sizes of 30 × 60 cm according to Tang dynasty measurements and were trimmed to fit specific uses. Long scrolls of sutras were formed either by joining sheets horizontally or cutting them into appropriate segments.