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Bamboo cultivation does exist in China for over 7000 years and is deeply rooted in Chinese culture and daily life. The bamboos have always been used to make all sorts of daily life objects and before the invention of paper they were the most important materials for writing during around 800 years. The first brushes were also made ​​from bamboo.

Bamboo is grown everywhere in China except in the far north but in the past it grew until the provinces along the Yellow River (Huang He); the culture has shifted to the south because of deforestation. Now it is very abundant in the valley of the Yangzi Jiang  River (Yangtze River or Blue River) and in the southern provinces, especially Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong.

Bamboo is an abundant, cheap and easily renewable resource for papermaking. It is used solely or mixed with other fibers. In the past bamboo was grown everywhere in China except in the extreme north but it grew until the provinces along the Yellow River (Huang He), its cultivation has moved south because of deforestation.

The bamboo species identified in paper making vary according to the authors. Pan Jixing identifies four genuses: Phyllostachys edulis, Phyllostachys nigra (Lodd.ex Lindl.) Munro, Pleioblastus amarus Keng and Dendrocalamus affinis Rendle. 

But also other types are cited: Drepanostachyum falcatum (Nees) Keng, Indosasa McClure, Melocanna bambusoides Trinius, Phyllostachys aurea Carr. ex M. Riv & C.Riv, Phyllostachys heteroclada Oliv., Semiarundinaria densiflora Rendle T.H. Wen and Schizostachyum Nees.

The very first bamboo papers were made ​​from the 5th to 6th century. Bamboo becomes the major source of fibers for paper from the second half of the eighth century during the Tang Dynasty. At first it is a substitute for hemp, first textile material, and to rattan which is completely exhausted at the end of the Tang Dynasty (618-907). It is abundant and cheap because it grows quickly. Under the Tang, a feudal period marked by a strong political stability, cultural development and economic prosperity, the need of paper for writing documents, increases.

The use of bamboo started in Guangdong where it grows in abundance with a hot and humid climate. The method extends to Zhejiang and Jiangsu during the Song Dynasty (960-1279).

Indeed, it is under the Song that movable type printing was invented, accelerating the development of the paper industry. However it seems that the production is still at an early stage and the result
imperfect.

Various written accounts show that if bamboo paper was invented in the late eighth century, it became popular, especially among artists, during the late 12th century, early 13th century.

It is during the Ming Dynasty (1348 -1644) that the technique of making paper from bamboo will improve. A detailed description is given in "Tian Gong Kai Wu' or "Creations of nature and work of man" (17th century book by Song Yingxing), where a long chapter is devoted to making paper from bamboo.

Bamboo papermaking has remained more or less the same. In the 1950s the production of handmade paper made from bamboo was about 120.000 tons.

Bamboo cultivation does exist in China for over 7000 years and is deeply rooted in Chinese culture and daily life. The bamboos have always been used to make all sorts of daily life objects and before the invention of paper they were the most important materials for writing during around 800 years. The first brushes were also made ​​from bamboo.

Bamboo is grown everywhere in China except in the far north but in the past it grew until the provinces along the Yellow River (Huang He); the culture has shifted to the south because of deforestation. Now it is very abundant in the valley of the Yangzi Jiang  River (Yangtze River or Blue River) and in the southern provinces, especially Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Fujian, Guangdong.

Bamboo is an abundant, cheap and easily renewable resource for papermaking. It is used solely or mixed with other fibers. In the past bamboo was grown everywhere in China except in the extreme north but it grew until the provinces along the Yellow River (Huang He), its cultivation has moved south because of deforestation.

The bamboo species identified in paper making vary according to the authors. Pan Jixing identifies four genuses: Phyllostachys edulis, Phyllostachys nigra (Lodd.ex Lindl.) Munro, Pleioblastus amarus Keng and Dendrocalamus affinis Rendle. 

But also other types are cited: Drepanostachyum falcatum (Nees) Keng, Indosasa McClure, Melocanna bambusoides Trinius, Phyllostachys aurea Carr. ex M. Riv & C.Riv, Phyllostachys heteroclada Oliv., Semiarundinaria densiflora Rendle T.H. Wen and Schizostachyum Nees.

The very first bamboo papers were made ​​from the 5th to 6th century. Bamboo becomes the major source of fibers for paper from the second half of the eighth century during the Tang Dynasty. At first it is a substitute for hemp, first textile material, and to rattan which is completely exhausted at the end of the Tang Dynasty (618-907). It is abundant and cheap because it grows quickly. Under the Tang, a feudal period marked by a strong political stability, cultural development and economic prosperity, the need of paper for writing documents, increases.

The use of bamboo started in Guangdong where it grows in abundance with a hot and humid climate. The method extends to Zhejiang and Jiangsu during the Song Dynasty (960-1279).

Indeed, it is under the Song that movable type printing was invented, accelerating the development of the paper industry. However it seems that the production is still at an early stage and the result
imperfect.

Various written accounts show that if bamboo paper was invented in the late eighth century, it became popular, especially among artists, during the late 12th century, early 13th century.

It is during the Ming Dynasty (1348 -1644) that the technique of making paper from bamboo will improve. A detailed description is given in "Tian Gong Kai Wu' or "Creations of nature and work of man" (17th century book by Song Yingxing), where a long chapter is devoted to making paper from bamboo.

Bamboo papermaking has remained more or less the same. In the 1950s the production of handmade paper made from bamboo was about 120.000 tons.

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.

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.

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), dans le "Weng Fang Ssu Phu"  ou "Les quatre outils du lettré" dit que les pailles de riz et de blé sont utilisées dans le Zhejiang et produisent un excellent papier en mélange avec le rotin.

Le papier le plus célèbre contenant de la paille de riz est le Xuan zhi. Ce papier est produit dans le comté de Jing, province de l’Anhui. Il est fabriqué à partir de fibres d’écorce de santal vert et de paille de riz. C’est le mélange des deux types de fibres qui procure au papier ses qualités pour la peinture et la calligraphie, en particulier l’effet incisif des traits de pinceau.

Le papier Xuan est cité dans le “Xīn Tángshū” ou "Nouvelle histoire des Tang" (ouvrage rédigé par les érudits officiels de la dynastie Song), datant de 1060.

Sa fabrication dans le comté de Jing, remonterait à la dynastie Tang (618-907). Les villes aux alentours de Xuancheng et Taiping étaient les centres de production. Le comté à l’époque Tang se trouvait sous le contrôle de la préfecture de Xuanzhou, ce qui lui a donné son nom. Progressivement sous les Song (960-1279), la fabrication du papier se déplace essentiellement vers le comté de Jing car les matières premières y sont abondantes : l’ulmus cavaleriei ou Pteroceltis tatarinowii y est une espèce endémique et le riz est cultivé sur place. A l’origine, la paille de riz est ajoutée comme complément fibreux pour diminuer le coût des matières premières. D’autres matières comme le bambou seront également utilisées durant les dynasties Song et Yuan ((1280-1368)

Sous les Ming (1368-1644), on fabrique du papier en mélangeant paille de riz et bambou: Song Yingxing (1587-1646) dans le "Tian Gong Kai Wu" ou "Créations de la nature et du travail de l’homme" (encyclopédie de 1637) mentionne le mélange de paille avec le bambou dans la fabrication du papier d’emballage.

Actuellement la paille est  encore l’une des matières les plus utilisées dans la production des papiers d’emballage, les papiers d’offrandes et les papiers sanitaires.