This plant is the basic material to make Xuan paper which is produced in Jing County, Anhui Province. The paper is made from the fibers of the bark of blue sandalwood and rice straw. It is the mixture of the two types of fibers that gives to paper its qualities for painting and calligraphy, in particular the effect of incisive brushstrokes.
The quality depends on the proportions between the bark of sandalwood and the rice straw.
Xuan paper was first mentioned in ancient Chinese books such as "Li Dai Ming Hua Ji" or "Notes of Past Famous Paintings" dated mid 9th century and "Xīn Tángshū" or "New Book of Tang", edited by official scholars of the Song Dynasty, dated 1060.
Its manufacture in Jing County, dates back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Neighbouring cities such as Xuancheng and Taiping cities, were production centers for blue sandalwood grew there. The Jing county was under the jurisdiction of Xuanzhou Prefecture in the Tang Dynasty which gave it its name.
But by the Song Dynasty (960-1279), the paper industries in Huizhou, Chizhou and Xuanzhou were gradually transferred to Jing County since the raw materials were abundant there: Ulmus cavaleriei or Pteroceltis tatarinowii is an endemic species and the rice is grown on site. The climate with abundant rainfall provides a favourable environment for the growth of blue sandalwood and rice.
Originally, rice straw is added as a supplement to reduce the costs of raw materials. Other materials such as bamboo or mulberry will be also used during the Song and Yuan dynasties (1280-1368).
During the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), the paper industry grew rapidly developing numerous kinds of papers.
In the last years of the Qing Dynasty, Xuan paper manufacturing was already in decline and false Xuan papers began to be produced, using bleached bamboo fibers.
The famous famous Xuan paper is the "red star brand " named after a modern factory.
