The Evolution of Paper Making in China: From Bamboo to Silk

In Wenzhou, paper was traditionally made using techniques where the paper sheets were laid out on the ground to dry, forming what was commonly referred to as a 'golden mountain'. This practice led to the establishment of paper manufacturing workshops across the region, with an increasing number of people earning their livelihood through paper production.

Wenzhou, particularly the region of Estiria, became a significant paper manufacturing center in the 13th century. Refugees fleeing conflicts in northern Fujian settled in the mountainous region with abundant bamboo forests. Many of these migrants, who were papermakers in Fujian, resumed their craft in Wenzhou, leading to the region's rapid growth as a major paper producer.

During its peak, Estiria produced around 3300 million sheets of paper annually, involving approximately 100,000 residents, which accounted for 80% of the population. The demand for paper necessitated arduous journeys by paper manufacturers to transport their heavy packages to the district market for sale.

Bamboo fibers were used to make paper over a thousand years ago, reflecting a long-standing tradition in China. Before paper was invented, bamboo strips were utilized for writing, often bound together with cords to form primitive books. This tradition persisted even after the introduction of paper.

The invention of paper revolutionized calligraphy, providing more space and better ink retention compared to bamboo strips and wooden tablets. Calligraphers no longer faced constraints on writing space, leading to improved quality and longevity of their work.

Paper's ability to retain ink longer than bamboo or wood enhanced the quality and durability of calligraphy. Calligraphers could now focus on perfecting their art without worrying about space limitations, leading to the development of more intricate and expressive styles.

The official cursive writing style was developed by combining various writing styles, including the official script of the Jin Dynasty and the cursive script of Shanghai. Caligraphers used thick ink and their brushstrokes were full of variations.

Caligraphers often cater to their individual needs when it comes to paper quality. The paper used in this type of album is aligned to control color gradation, making it convenient for writing lowercase cursive letters.

The Pavilion of Orchid, located at the foot of Mount La Ancho in the province of Chiang, is famous for the great caligraphy work of Wang Zhizhi. Wang Zhizhi wrote the caligraphy masterpiece 'Lounge Un Zoom' on paper made with silk cocoons as fine as leather on March 3, 503 AD.

The raw material used in making paper with silk cocoons was crucial for the evolution of paper used by caligraphers and painters during the Qin Dynasty. The caligraphy in the masterpiece 'Preface to the Compilation of the Orchid Pavilion' has been described as having energetic and fascinating brushstrokes.

During the 4th century, when mulberry paper was widely available, it is believed that Juan Chi may have used mulberry paper to write his famous caligraphy 'Preface to the Compilation of the Orchid Pavilion.'

The fame of the caligraphy piece 'Preface to the Compilation of the Orchid Pavilion' can be attributed not only to its excellent caligraphy but also to the quality of the paper it was written on.

In the 1960s, Fancy began studying the history of paper manufacturing and faced difficulty obtaining paper samples. One day, he discovered a roll of parchment with Buddhist scriptures in a Beijing antique shop on Julie Hamp Street. The parchment roll dates back to the 7th or 8th century, originating from the Dunhuang caves in northwest China. Made from mulberry bark, the parchment still retains legible Buddhist writings over 1200 years old.

Paper was invented in the 1st century CE and later improved by subsequent papermakers. During the Wei and Tang dynasties between the 3rd and 6th centuries, a type of paper treated with yellow dye extracted from cork tree bark was developed. This yellow-dyed paper, known for its moth-repellent properties, was used for printing books and official documents, with Buddhist scriptures often transcribed on this specially treated paper.

The technique for making yellow-dyed paper involves splitting and boiling cork bark, adding mineral substances and animal resins to create a solution applied uniformly to coat the paper surface, giving it a yellow hue. This specially treated paper not only repels moths but also enhances readability for extended periods, still being used today for various purposes.

In Taton City, Shaanxi Province, statues of Buddha sculpted 1500 years ago during the Jin dynasty and Southern and Northern dynasties stand as a testament to the active promotion of Buddhism by the imperial court. Monks transcribed numerous copies of Buddhist sutras by hand during the era of transcriptions, with poor scholars skilled in calligraphy earning a living as scribes, contributing to the spread of civilization.

Original books and documents were preserved in national libraries or elite scholars' studies, while transcriptions were made available to the common people, playing a vital role in promoting civilization. It took time before the golden age of paper arrived, with the British Museum housing literary works written on paper recovered from the Dunhuang caves in China, including a valuable copy of the Buddhist text, the Diamond Sutra, printed using woodblocks in 868.

Wang Xiaoyan, an expert woodblock carver, prefers using pear wood for printing blocks. His craftsmanship mirrors the exquisite skill of artisans in detailing woodblocks, showcasing the advanced level achieved in the primitive printing technique of xylography during the Tang dynasty.

In the woodblock printing process, a thin sheet of paper is placed on a solid block with characters carved in reverse. Careful carving and inking are essential, as even the slightest error could ruin the entire work. Skilled workers could produce over 2,000 woodblock prints per day in ancient printing workshops, a stark comparison to the limited output of scribes transcribing only a few pages daily. Each book required hundreds of printing blocks, and the entire production process could span several years.

In Ruiz, a town in Wenzhou, Zhejiang province, artisans are masters of traditional movable type printing techniques. They use mnemonic formulas inherited from the past to organize blocks correctly. The development of printing during the Song Dynasty significantly increased the number of official government publications in less than two decades.

In the region of Dese, traditional water-powered trip hammers were used to crush raw materials, mainly plant fibers, for papermaking. These trip hammers, operated by a water wheel, were utilized worldwide by paper manufacturers. The historical use of trip hammers for papermaking dates back to ancient times.

In Ella, water-powered trip hammers work continuously day and night, powered by water from the upper stream of a creek. These trip hammers, weighing 150 kilograms each, crush bamboo and other plant fibers into fine pulp. During peak seasons, the trip hammers operate 24 hours a day. Historical records lack information on the initial use of water-powered trip hammers by paper manufacturers in the C&A region.

A stone tablet inscription on a trip hammer in the C&A region states that seven people built the hammer in 1791. A survey in the 1950s revealed 555 water-powered trip hammers in the Seia region, indicating a thriving artisanal papermaking industry. The presence of numerous trip hammers highlights the prosperous history of handmade paper production in the region.

Mr. Fina, a 77-year-old resident of Luján district in Zhejiang province, continues the ancient craft of making traditional paper umbrellas coated with tung oil. The umbrella, invented in ancient times, remains a symbol of craftsmanship and tradition in the region.

During the Northern Wei Dynasty around the 5th century, the inspiration for paper umbrellas came from the covers used on palanquins transporting high-ranking officials and wealthy individuals. These umbrellas, covered with oil and funk, were a byproduct of the paper manufacturing industry. Eventually, the use of paper umbrellas spread worldwide.

Paper was adapted for various purposes beyond writing and drawing. It was used for packaging goods, covering windows with lattice, and had almost equal importance for these purposes as for writing and drawing.

Despite its diverse uses, paper remains an indispensable personal item today, reflecting its profound influence on human life.

The widespread practice of papermaking led to the establishment of paper manufacturing workshops across the country, where people earned their livelihood through paper production. The region of Celia de Wenzhou in Zhejiang province saw a significant influx of refugees in the mid-13th century, with the Star Region producing approximately 3.3 billion sheets of paper annually, involving around 100,000 inhabitants.

Paper manufacturers had to transport their heavy packages to the district market, a journey that took almost half a day through rugged mountains. Despite the arduous task, they engaged in this work to ensure their daily sustenance.

In some regions, paper is still produced using traditional techniques, preserving the age-old craft.

Russian Ella, a mountainous region with limited arable land, saw inhabitants focus on bamboo forests due to crop growth constraints. Many migrants who were paper manufacturers in Fusong resumed this craft in their new homes, turning the Star Region into a significant paper manufacturing center with abundant water supply and lush bamboo forests.