Sekishu
paper is one of the oldest handmade papers in the world, a splendid
paper made in Japan. This paper has been made in the Iwami area
(Sekishu) for over 1,300 years. It is said that when Kakinomotono
Hitomaro went to take up the post of protector in the province of Iwami,
he taught the people there how to make paper.
Sekishu paper is made only from locally cultivated paper
mulberry and has excellent strength, fineness, and luster. The long kozo
fibers make the paper strong and supple. Handmade Sekishu Paper has great wet strength for
its weight and is an excellent sheet for traditional oriental painting
technique.
Making of Sekishu Paper
- Make a pulp using kozo fibers.
- Mix well in water and stir gently.
- Using a mold and deckle lift a layer of paper fibers. The
thickness of the paper depends on the number of times the mold is
charged.
- Cast off the excess water.
- Transfer the paper to a drying board.
- Peel of each sheet of damp paper of the stack.
- Use a brush to spread out the sheet on the drying board.
- Finally each sheet of paper is scrupulously examined by hand.
Applications of Sekishu Paper
In the olden days Osaka merchants used
Sekishu paper for
account books, and, in case of fire, threw these books into a well to
keep the records safe. The durability and quality of the paper insured
that this drastic measure was in fact very effective. With the passing
generation these beautiful Japanese paper became more and more versatile
in their uses. These days paper is made for shoji screens, calligraphy
paper, letter paper, envelopes and postcards, and business cards and
many other things that all retain a distinctive character.
