The Development Of Toilet Paper

Video: The Development Of Toilet Paper

2023 Author : Hannah Pearcy | [email protected] . Last modified: 2023-05-24 11:12

Although paper had been known as packaging and upholstery material in China since the 2nd century BC, the first documented use of toilet paper dates back to the 6th century in early medieval China. In 589, scholar Yan Zhitui wrote that he did not want to use certain classics in Chinese literature to wipe his butt.

In the Tang Dynasty, in 851, an Arab traveler was amazed to learn that the Chinese do not clean themselves with water, but only wipe with paper.

Perfumed toilet paper for the imperial palace

During the 14th century, it was discovered that what is now Zhejiang Province, a province east of Hubei Province (where the city of Wuhan is located), produced ten million packages of 1,000 to 10,000 sheets of toilet paper annually.

During the Ming Dynasty in 1393 an annual supply of 720,000 sheets of toilet paper (about 60 cm x 90 cm) was produced for the general use of the imperial court. The records of the Imperial Supply Office of the same year also show that 15,000 sheets of special toilet paper were made of soft fabric for the imperial family alone, and every single sheet of toilet paper was perfumed.

Clean the butt with mussels

The situation was quite different in the western world. In ancient Rome, for example, a sponge was usually used on a stick instead of toilet paper and put back into a bucket of vinegar after use.

In the rest of the world, the wealthy wiped their bottoms with wool, lace or hemp, while the less wealthy used their bare hands, relieved themselves of their need in the rivers, or with various materials such as rags, wood shavings, leaves, grass, hay, stones, Sand, moss, water, snow, ferns, fruit bowls, mussels or even corn on the cob - depending on the country and weather conditions or available cleaning utensils.

Print media are misused

Talmudic sources, which refer to old Jewish practices, refer to the use of small pebbles, which were often carried in a special bag, as well as the use of dry grass and the smooth edges of broken ceramic jugs. This shard may have been used as a scraping cleaning tool.

The advent of daily newspapers in Europe in the 18th century meant that newspapers and cheap editions of (less) popular books were misused.

To date, there are many alternatives

Toilet paper is not used in many parts of the world, particularly where toilet paper or the lines required for disposal are unavailable or not affordable. Many parts of the world see people using water as a much cleaner and more hygienic practice than using paper.

The fact that bidets are now spreading in the quiet village shows that this practice is also finding its way into the western world. And the trend imported from Japan towards high-tech toilets with bidet, heated seat and cloth dispenser for wiping smartphones is also becoming increasingly popular in China.

However, as a China traveler you should bring your own toilet paper - because there you assume that you want to wipe your butt with your personal favorite brand.