At first glance, the name may not evoke the formidable strength of paper armor in ancient times, which could even withstand swords and pistols in battle.
When envisioning ancient warfare, many people picture muscular warriors clad in armor made of iron or steel. However, according to ancient Chinese records, the use of paper armor was sometimes the better choice.
Few know that ancient craftsmen in China invented paper armor, a creation that was never utilized in the West. This type of armor was used around 600 BC.
The 2,600-Year-Old Invention of Paper Armor
Despite its seemingly “fragile” appearance, paper armor demonstrated remarkable capabilities in combat. To create this unusual armor, it is essential to mention the ancient invention of paper in China.
Paper armor used in China around 600 BC. (Photo: Discovery)
Specifically, while the Greco-Roman civilization was thriving in the West, ancient Chinese people developed paper, weapons, astronomy, mathematics, and advanced metallurgy to a level comparable to or even surpassing that of the Mediterranean region.
As we know, China is the birthplace of paper. Legend has it that around 105 AD, a eunuch named Cai Lun was the first to create paper from mulberry bark.
Pieces of paper made from hemp during the Han Dynasty.
However, recent research has found evidence suggesting that hemp paper may have been invented even earlier, around 100 BC. With advantages such as low cost and light weight, paper gradually replaced materials used for storing written records, such as bamboo slips, tortoise shells, and silk. Beyond its more obvious uses, ancient Chinese people even utilized this material to make armor.
Throughout history, the Chinese demonstrated impressive protective capabilities for soldiers using various materials, including tortoise shells, bronze, stone, leather, and even steel. Steel was skillfully crafted into small squares, rectangles, and fish scale shapes to provide optimal protection in warfare. However, it is surprising to find ancient records of armor made of silk and paper.
According to Greg Martin, an expert on ancient armor, who shared insights on the show MythBusters, ancient Chinese people utilized paper armor as early as 600 BC.
Specifically, these paper armors were often treated with rosin or other types of plant resins. Mr. Martin indicated that paper armor was considered superior to metal armor at that time.
Interestingly, these paper armors even predate the invention of writing paper. They truly became essential gear for ancient soldiers going into battle.
Constructed from 10-15 layers of paper made from mulberry tree bark, paper armor was even believed to be capable of stopping arrows.
To test the potential of paper armor, the Mythbusters team conducted an experiment to assess its durability, comparing its strength and flexibility against steel armor used during the same historical period in China.
Testing the Strength of Paper Armor: The Results Are Surprising!
To test the strength, the Mythbusters team created both types of paper armor, one treated with rosin and the other without. The paper used to make the armor was approximately 13mm thick.
Subsequently, experts attempted to attack the paper armor with various weapons, including swords, 18th-century pistols, and a .45 revolver used in the 19th century.
However, paper armor did have certain limitations in withstanding rapid attacks and proved to be weaker against the impact of the 19th-century revolver.
Nevertheless, overall, paper armor demonstrated that its capabilities were not inferior to those of steel armor. Therefore, scientists concluded that it was entirely feasible that ancient Chinese people used paper armor in combat.
Remarkable strength, but paper armor has the critical downside of easily disintegrating when wet.
This illustrates that, alongside metals and leather, ancient craftsmen knew how to use various materials to create protective armor for the body.
However, a “fatal” drawback of paper armor is that it can quickly disintegrate when wet or subjected to rapid successive attacks.
This limitation is tied to the lightweight advantage of paper armor.
Nonetheless, the invention of armor using readily available materials, with capabilities that even surpassed those of metal armor, truly inspires admiration for later generations.
