Su I-Chien (953-996), in the "Phu Weng Fang Ssu" or "Four implements for writing in a scholar's studio" says that rice and wheat straws are used in Zhejiang and produce an excellent paper when mixed with rattan.
The most famous paper containing rice straw is Xuan zhi. This paper is produced in Jing County, Anhui Province. It is made from fibers from the bark of blue sandalwood and rice straw. It is the mixture of the two types of fibers that gives the paper its qualities for painting and calligraphy, in particular the effect of sharp brushstrokes.
Xuan paper is cited in the "Xīn Tángshū" or “New history of Tang” (edited by official scholars of the Song Dynasty), in 1060.
Its manufacture in Jing County dates back to Tang Dynasty (618-907). Neighboring cities around Xuancheng and Taiping were production centers. Jing County during the Tang period was under the juridiction of Xuanzhou prefecture, which gave it its name. Gradually during the Song dynasty (960-1279), papermaking moved essentially towards Jing County because the raw materials were abundant: Ulmus cavaleriei or Pteroceltis tatarinowii is an endemic species there and the rice is grown on site. Originally, rice straw was added as a supplement to reduce the fibrous raw material costs. Other materials such as bamboo are also used during the Song and Yuan dynasties ((1280-1368).
During the Ming (1368-1644), paper was made by mixing rice straw and bamboo : Song Yingxing (1587-1646) in the "Tian Gong Kai Wu" or "Creations of nature and work of man " (encyclopedia dated 1637) mentions the blending of straw with bamboo in the manufacture of wrapping paper.
Currently straw is still one of the most used materials in the production of packaging paper, ceremony papers and sanitary papers.
