Collector Wang Zeng once said that the "White Xuan" in the Southern Song Dynasty was made of sandalwood skin and straw, just like the rice paper of later generations. Tian Hongsheng, a collector in ancient paper, introduced that Xuan paper is the floorboard of Xuanzhou leather paper. Its name originated from Xuanzhou tribute paper in Tang Dynasty. In the long-term development of Yuan and Ming Dynasties, it was constantly improved, and it became an outstanding representative of China leather paper in the middle of Ming Dynasty.
Wang, an expert on woodcut watermarking in Rong Baozhai, believes that ink is beneficial when Xuan paper is used for painting and calligraphy. Xuan paper is used for publishing books, elegant and gorgeous; Xuan paper is used for mounting and plays an irreplaceable role: the Palace Museum [Weibo] has a painting by Wang Jian, a painter of the Qing Dynasty, which imitates the landscape of Dong Qichang at the age of 73. Wang Jian said in the painting: "Dong likes Korean paper and jade plate paper very much. They are greasy and smooth, like solidified fat, and the pen is not astringent. I got this paper from my friend. This is a copy of Siang's handwriting. " It can be seen that paper and painting are not only interdependent, but also affect the development trend of painting and calligraphy art to a great extent. Why was Xuan paper "perfect" in Ming Dynasty? This is because the development of Xuan paper is closely related to the demand of painting. The art of calligraphy and painting in Ming Dynasty was very developed, especially the popularity of freehand brushwork in ink and wash, which needed high-quality paper to express, which objectively promoted the progress of Xuan paper manufacturing technology. In Qing Dynasty, Xuan paper was chosen as court paper and official paper because of its whiteness, flexibility and smoothness. Sikuquanshu, compiled during the Qianlong period, was written on rice paper. 1886, Xuan Paper won a high reputation after winning the gold medal in Panama World Expo.
Mi Jingyang, former deputy general manager of Rong Baozhai, said that old Rong Baozhai sold old rice paper stored for five to ten years. "Because the new rice paper is hard and dry, the old rice paper that has been stored for many years has been wet and dry several times in the cold and hot seasons. It has no violent ink at all. It is easy to fall. " . Many old painters like to use old paper: Fu Baoshi painted with dry old paper, and Li Keran always liked to use "ultra-clean leather" ten years ago. When buying, he needs a knife to choose the one with moderate thickness. Real rice paper is made of sandalwood bark and shatian straw. Its outstanding feature is "moistening ink", which is of great significance to painters and calligraphers. Li Liping, general manager of Wenzhou Shuguang Stationery Co., Ltd. said that Xuan paper can greatly enrich the forms of ink painting, which can not only crack and scratch, but also be used to make various splash-ink renderings. The handwriting and ink are clear and distinguishable, and the ink is rich.
Kang Muru, a painter and calligrapher, said that Xuan paper used for painting and calligraphy creation is generally based on transparency and shade. Generally speaking, the pursuit of heavy style is suitable for the use of strong negative base paper; I want to write profitably, with brushwork and interest, which is suitable for mature paper with less negative films.