Tsusho in simple terms means
bamboo paper. This paper is made on a screen of split bamboo strung
together with yak hair. Tsusho paper has a more even fibre structure and
is smoothed with a polished stone. The paper is extremely hard and
durable. Bhutanese Tsusho, a paper with strong laid lines in natural
colour at 100gsm in sheets of 56cmx76cm.
Making of Tsusho Paper
- Make a pulp using de nar bark fibers.
- Pour the pulp on a floating mould.
- Dip the screen into a vat in which the de-nar fibre is mixed with
water.
- The impression of the screen remains as a watermark in the paper.
- Stack the sheets in a pile, pressed under the weight of a few big
stones.
- Then separate and dry on the mud plastered bamboo walls of a
drying hut.
- This is a very special and beautiful handmade tsusho paper is made.
Applications of Tsusho Paper
- Used in the monasteries for manuscripts.
- Use it for sketch book covers.
- Pasted onto a wall it also makes an interesting and hard wearing
wall paper.
