Xuan paper is a traditional paper in China and one of the earliest papers in the world. It is famous for its thinness, softness and good ink absorption, and it is suitable for China painting and calligraphy. The raw material of rice paper is mainly mulberry bark, and then it is made by many complicated processes. The production process of Xuan paper includes pulping, cooking, bleaching, soaking, re-bleaching, drying and other steps. These processes retain the traditional skills, so that the rice paper maintains its unique fineness and quality.
Xuan paper has many specifications and thicknesses, which are suitable for different painting and calligraphy needs. Among the different specifications, the most famous one is Bao Si paper, which refers to the four standard specifications of Xuan paper: Jing Xuan, Xuan II, Xuan III and Xuan IV. Fine Xuan paper is the thinnest one, which is suitable for fine paintings and calligraphy, while Xuan Si is a thick Xuan paper, which is mostly used in meticulous paintings and other works that need more pigments to be superimposed.
The origin of rice paper
The origin of Xuan paper can be traced back to the end of the Eastern Han Dynasty in China, around the 2nd century. It is said that the inventor of Xuan paper was Cai Lun, an official, strategist and inventor in the late Eastern Han Dynasty. In the process of improving papermaking technology, Cai Lun found that the paper made of mulberry bark was soft and suitable for writing and painting. Therefore, he named this paper "Xuan Paper", which is from his word Li Xuan.
Before Cai Lun, paper had appeared in China, but bamboo, rattan, hemp and other plant fibers were mainly used. Xuan paper is the first kind of paper made of mulberry pulp, which is characterized by softness, good ink absorption and tough texture. After hundreds of years of development and improvement, the production technology of ancient China Xuan paper has gradually formed a unique production technology and standards.