Xuan Paper is a pure,
typically white and moth resistant Chinese handmade paper. Xuan paper is
manufactured by Cao family of Jing County, Anhui Province, whose
ancestor was one of the earliest papermaker and major producer in feudal
China.
Xuan paper is applauded and considered to be the best. Jing County
paper was first shipped to Xuanzhou, then transshipped to other ports.
That is why Jing County paper is called Xuan paper. The calligraphy can
be kept thousands of years without changing the quality of the art.
The paper are made up of chosen raw material wash and starch by the
natural spring water and exposed out of door day and night to make it
white naturally. The special features of the paper is good strength,
soft, fine textured, resistant to folds and moths and is white as jade.
There are numerous kinds of Xuan paper, such as dan, jia, luowen, coral,
tiger-skin and jade-plate. The quality of handmade xuan paper depends on whether
the paper is unprocessed, processed or half processed.
- Unprocessed Paper - Unprocessed paper absorbs
water easily. Ink filters through this paper easily.
- Processed Paper- Processed paper goes through a
process whereby gelatine made from bones and alum are added. This
kind of paper does not absorb water easily. It is stiff or hard to
the touch.
- Half-Processed Paper- Half-processed paper has
a neutral character, in that it absorbs water, but it does not
filter through easily.
Application of Xuan Paper
- A paper reflecting the tradition of Chinese papermaking.
- Forms an ideal surface for Chinese people to express themselves
in written or paintings.
- It is an ideal art paper paper for painting, drawing,
conservation, and traditional as well as digital printmaking.
- Xuan paper has been considered best throughout the ages for
Chinese calligraphy.
- The people both home and abroad like it as oriental art treasure.
