The introduction of pencils to China occurred in the late 19th century. Although the term “铅笔” (pencil) was used in ancient Chinese texts, it referred to a different writing instrument. The modern graphite pencil, as we know it today, was introduced to China from Western countries during the late 19th century.
Initially, countries like Russia, Japan, and the United States established pencil manufacturing factories in the 19th century, and by the end of that century, pencils from Germany, Japan, and the United States began to dominate the Chinese market. The first Chinese pencil manufacturing factory, the China Standard Pencil Factory, was established in Shanghai in 1935, marking the beginning of domestic pencil production in China.
Therefore, while the concept of a “pencil” existed in ancient China, the modern graphite pencil was introduced from the West in the late 19th century and became widely used in the early 20th century.
