Editing Cai Lun (section)

===Early imperial court service===
{{further|History of the Han dynasty#Policies under Guangwu, Ming, Zhang, and He}}

It is not known how Cai came to be in the service of the imperial court in [[Old City of Luoyang|Luoyang]] (modern-day [[Luoyang]], [[Henan]] province), which was distant from his birthplace.{{sfn|de Crespigny|2016|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=jSJ4DgAAQBAJ&pg=PA176 176]}} The {{Transliteration|zh|Hou Hanshu}} reports that he was first employed during the end of the {{Transliteration|zh|Yongping}} era (58–75) of [[Emperor Ming of Han|Emperor Ming]].{{sfn|de Crespigny|2007|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=49OvCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA27 27]}}<ref group="‡">{{harvtxt|''Hou Hanshu'' (78/68:2513–14)}}: "{{lang|zh-Hant|以永平末始给事宫掖}}"<br />"He began serving in the palace at the end of the {{Transliteration|zh|Yongping}} era".<br />{{harvtxt|Hunter|Hunter|1978|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=1sEp3rtK994C&pg=PA50 50]}}: At the close of the reign of {{Transliteration|zh|Yongping}}, Cai Lun was employed at the court".</ref> The site of modern Guiyang Commandery was known to have had various iron mines at the time,{{sfnm|1a1=Poo|1y=2018|1p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=Z7paDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA98 98]|2a1=Wagner|2y=2001|2p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=hgpCx2c9JQEC&pg=PA91 91]}} so the former director of the [[Paper Museum]] in Tokyo, Kiyofusa Narita, suggested that "through the assistance of some who were in charge of the iron foundry, he found opportunity to go to the capital city".{{sfn|Narita|1966|p=2}} Narita cited Cai's future court appointment to oversee the production of weapons, especially [[Chinese swords|swords]], as evidence that he must have learned the skills to do so earlier in his life, likely from the iron foundry.{{sfn|Narita|1966|p=2}} Alternatively, if there is any truth to the various [[#Folklore|folktales about Cai]], his supposed habits of trickery may have helped him receive a court appointment.{{sfn|Blake|2011|p=55}}

Cai is known to have been a eunuch in 75 CE, although it is possible he was employed somewhat earlier in the {{Transliteration|zh|Yongping}} era;{{sfnm|1a1=Tsien|1y=1985|1p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=Lx-9mS6Aa4wC&pg=PA40 40]|2a1=Hunter|2a2=Hunter|2y=1978|2p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=1sEp3rtK994C&pg=PA50 50]}} sinologist [[Rafe de Crespigny]] suggested this was in the early 70s.{{sfn|de Crespigny|2016|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=jSJ4DgAAQBAJ&pg=PA176 176]}} In the Han dynasty, eunuchs were employed in imperial service and were the only people eligible for certain specialized tasks, such as watching over the [[Imperial Chinese harem system|imperial harem]] and the imperial household; there were also certain promotions available exclusively for them.{{sfn|Cartwright|2017}} Cai's position was probably as a liaison between the [[privy council]] and the emperor, and likely involved duties akin to a [[chamberlain (office)|chamberlain]] for the imperial family.{{sfn|Monro|2016|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=-Y6mCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA57 57]}} Narita notes Cai's role meant he would have had many chances to become acquainted with the most powerful people in the empire.{{sfn|Narita|1966|p=2}} Around 80 CE, during the subsequent {{Transliteration|zh|Jianchu}} era (76–84) under [[Emperor Zhang of Han|Emperor Zhang]], Cai was promoted to a ''[[Xiao Huangmen]]'' ({{lang|zh-Hant|小黄門}}; "Attendant at the Yellow Gates").{{sfn|de Crespigny|2007|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=49OvCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA27 27]}}<ref group="‡">{{harvtxt|''Hou Hanshu'' (78/68:2513–14)}}: "{{lang|zh-Hant|建初中，为小黄門。}}"<br />"At the beginning of the {{Transliteration|zh|Jianchu}} era, he served as {{Transliteration|zh|Xiao Huangmen}}".<br />{{harvtxt|Carter|1925|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=PgEYAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA3 3]}}: "During the period {{Transliteration|zh|Jianchu}} (76–84), Cai Lun formed part of the Imperial Guard."</ref> The positions, with a salary-rank of 600 ''shi'' or ''dan'',{{efn|During the Han dynasty, the power a government official exercised was determined by his annual salary-rank, measured in grain units known as ''dan'' ([[wikt:石|石]] or ''shi'', a unit of volume, approximately {{convert|35|L|USbsh}}).{{sfn|Bielenstein|1980|p=131}}{{sfn|de Crespigny|2007|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=49OvCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA1221 1221]}} See [[Government of the Han dynasty#Salaries]] for further information.}} involved delivering and receiving messages between the imperial palace apartments and the outside court.{{sfn|de Crespigny|2007|p=[https://books.google.com/books?id=49OvCQAAQBAJ&pg=PA1218 1218]}}