Search

The use of hemp as fiber in papermaking is the oldest and dates back to the Western Han (206 BC-8 AD). The first papers are made from either fibre cloths or raw bast fibres. The oldest paper fragments from the Western Han period, discovered in Minfeg (Xinjiang province) dated from the beginning of the third century BC, the fragments found in Baqiao (Shaanxi province) dated 140- 87 BC and the fragments found in 1934 in Lobnor, near Loulan (Xinjiang province) dated from the first century BC, were all made with hemp fibres. Other common papermaking materials were used such as paper mulberry and ramie in the Han period and later as rattan introduced in the 3^rd century, but hemp remained the primary material for paper manufacture.

During the Tang period (618-907), hemp paper is considered as the best for calligraphy, bookbinding and official documents (including at Imperial Court’s) because it is light, strong and waterproof.

The use of hemp in paper making declined after the Tang period and was replaced progressively by ramie and bamboo.

The use of hemp as fiber in papermaking is the oldest and dates back to the Western Han (206 BC-8 AD). The first papers are made from either fibre cloths or raw bast fibres. The oldest paper fragments from the Western Han period, discovered in Minfeg (Xinjiang province) dated from the beginning of the third century BC, the fragments found in Baqiao (Shaanxi province) dated 140- 87 BC and the fragments found in 1934 in Lobnor, near Loulan (Xinjiang province) dated from the first century BC, were all made with hemp fibres. Other common papermaking materials were used such as paper mulberry and ramie in the Han period and later as rattan introduced in the 3^rd century, but hemp remained the primary material for paper manufacture.

During the Tang period (618-907), hemp paper is considered as the best for calligraphy, bookbinding and official documents (including at Imperial Court’s) because it is light, strong and waterproof.

The use of hemp in paper making declined after the Tang period and was replaced progressively by ramie and bamboo.

The use of hemp as fiber in papermaking is the oldest and dates back to the Western Han (206 BC-8 AD). The first papers are made from either fibre cloths or raw bast fibres. The oldest paper fragments from the Western Han period, discovered in Minfeg (Xinjiang province) dated from the beginning of the third century BC, the fragments found in Baqiao (Shaanxi province) dated 140- 87 BC and the fragments found in 1934 in Lobnor, near Loulan (Xinjiang province) dated from the first century BC, were all made with hemp fibres. Other common papermaking materials were used such as paper mulberry and ramie in the Han period and later as rattan introduced in the 3^rd century, but hemp remained the primary material for paper manufacture.

During the Tang period (618-907), hemp paper is considered as the best for calligraphy, bookbinding and official documents (including at Imperial Court’s) because it is light, strong and waterproof.

The use of hemp in paper making declined after the Tang period and was replaced progressively by ramie and bamboo.

In the "Yunju Mishu" or "Rare Books in Yunju", text written during the Song Dynasty (960-1279) which  gives information on raw materials used in the manufacture of paper and provinces where they are used, it is stated that moss is used in the maritime areas of China. Is this moss, bog moss or algae?

Algae were used during the Seonjin period (265-316) and then under the Tang (618-907) and Song (960-1279).

In the "Yunju Mishu" or "Rare Books in Yunju", text written during the Song Dynasty and giving information on raw materials used in the manufacture of paper and provinces where they are used, it is stated that moss is used in the maritime areas of China. Is this moss, bog moss or algae ?

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.

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.

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.

The use of hemp as fiber in papermaking is the oldest and dates back to the Western Han (206 BC-8 AD). The first papers are made from either fibre cloths or raw bast fibres. The oldest paper fragments from the Western Han period, discovered in Minfeg (Xinjiang province) dated from the beginning of the third century BC, the fragments found in Baqiao (Shaanxi province) dated 140- 87 BC and the fragments found in 1934 in Lobnor, near Loulan (Xinjiang province) dated from the first century BC, were all made with hemp fibres. Other common papermaking materials were used such as paper mulberry and ramie in the Han period and later as rattan introduced in the 3^rd century, but hemp remained the primary material for paper manufacture.

During the Tang period (618-907), hemp paper is considered as the best for calligraphy, bookbinding and official documents (including at Imperial Court’s) because it is light, strong and waterproof.

The use of hemp in paper making declined after the Tang period and was replaced progressively by ramie and bamboo.

The use of hemp as fiber in papermaking is the oldest and dates back to the Western Han (206 BC-8 AD). The first papers are made from either fibre cloths or raw bast fibres. The oldest paper fragments from the Western Han period, discovered in Minfeg (Xinjiang province) dated from the beginning of the third century BC, the fragments found in Baqiao (Shaanxi province) dated 140- 87 BC and the fragments found in 1934 in Lobnor, near Loulan (Xinjiang province) dated from the first century BC, were all made with hemp fibres. Other common papermaking materials were used such as paper mulberry and ramie in the Han period and later as rattan introduced in the 3^rd century, but hemp remained the primary material for paper manufacture.

During the Tang period (618-907), hemp paper is considered as the best for calligraphy, bookbinding and official documents (including at Imperial Court’s) because it is light, strong and waterproof.

The use of hemp in paper making declined after the Tang period and was replaced progressively by ramie and bamboo.

The use of hemp as fiber in papermaking is the oldest and dates back to the Western Han (206 BC-8 AD). The first papers are made from either fibre cloths or raw bast fibres. The oldest paper fragments from the Western Han period, discovered in Minfeg (Xinjiang province) dated from the beginning of the third century BC, the fragments found in Baqiao (Shaanxi province) dated 140- 87 BC and the fragments found in 1934 in Lobnor, near Loulan (Xinjiang province) dated from the first century BC, were all made with hemp fibres. Other common papermaking materials were used such as paper mulberry and ramie in the Han period and later as rattan introduced in the 3^rd century, but hemp remained the primary material for paper manufacture.

During the Tang period (618-907), hemp paper is considered as the best for calligraphy, bookbinding and official documents (including at Imperial Court’s) because it is light, strong and waterproof.

The use of hemp in paper making declined after the Tang period and was replaced progressively by ramie and bamboo.