Huang-Tan

Language:

Local scripture:

黄檀

Dalbergia hupeana Hance © Plantillustrations

Dalbergia hupeana Hance © CFH Nature Museum

Identification

Fibre type
Average fibre lenght
Average fibre width
Fibre ends
Striations, cross-markings, flexion creases
Associated cells
Special features
Herzberg staining
Graff 'C' staining

Botanical classification

Dalbergia hupeana Hance

Order:

Fabales

Family:

Fabaceae

Synonyms:

Dalbergia hupeana var. bauhiniifolia Pamp.

Dalbergia sacerdotum Prain

Plant growing area

Endemic in China (Anhui, Fujian, Guangdong, Guangxi, Henan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangsu, Jiangxi, Shandong, Shanxi, Sichuan, Yunnan, Zhejiang).

Grows in forests, on mountain slopes, by streams, between 800 to 1400 m.

Use area in the manufacture of paper

China.

Plant cultivation and use

Dalbergia hupeana is a tree, 10-20 m tall. There are some hundreds species of Dalbergia which are exploited for their hardwood and essential oils they contain. These oils confer them insecticides and medicinal properties (antiphlogistic).

China:

Hardwood tree that grew first in the department of Xuanzheng (Anhui).

The bark of sandalwood called tanpi was the main material for manufacturing Xuan paper.

During the Later Han Dynasty, it would be discovered by accident that it could be used to make paper.

Preparation process for making paper

China:

The tree is cut during the winter and cut into pieces. These pieces are placed in a steamer and the bark is peeled. It is washed with water and then mixed with lime for 10 or 20 days. When the bark is half softened, it was beaten with a foot hammer or a water wheel grinder. The beating is repeated 3 or 4 times to get the right consistency and the pulp can be used to form the sheets.

Vernacular names

Chinese

Huang-Tan	黄檀
Tan	檀
Tanpi	檀皮

Korean

Danhyangpi	단향피

French

Bois de santal

English

Santal wood

Paper names

In Asia and particularly in China, Korea and Japan, the papers are intended for a wide range of use: Papers for calligraphy and art, Papers for ceremonies, Paper as a medium of exchange, money paper, Papers for making clothes, wall hangings and bedding, Papers for architecture, interior design, Papers for crafts of various kinds, for domestic purposes and leisure.

The names assigned to the paper refers to different notions: The material used, The place of production, The method of production, Appearance, Dimensions, Use, The name of an artist or a studio etc.

China:

Suffixes zhi or chih = paper.

In China, unlike Korea and Japan, papers made with paper mulberry fibers are not prominent, the production of paper from bamboo fiber being the most important.

Japan:

Suffixes kami, gami, shi = paper.

In Japan kozo papers are the most numerous.

Papers

China

Xuan zhi

Japan

Dabishi

Used part of the plant:

Bark

Use for paper making:

Fiber

Dye

Search form

Huang-Tan

Dalbergia hupeana Hance

Papers