XUAN paper - which type to choose?
中国 宣纸
Where did the name of the Xuan paper come from?
In China, there are many types of paper intended for calligraphy and painting, however za the best and most valuable it is considered the paper produced in the Anhui province, in the Jingccator1905 county, known to everyone -5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_xuānzhǐ 宣纸 (pronounced suendji) ._ cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_
The Xuan paper takes its name from the former Xuanzhou port district (宣州), which was located in the area of today's Xuancheng city (宣城), where it was originally manufactured. Xuan paper is often mistakenly called rice paper, however, none of its ingredients are actually rice (rice straw at most) ._ cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ The main raw materials depending on the type of Xuan paper are: _cc781905-5cde-3194 -bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ tree bark sandal and cherry, bamboo, mulberry, rice straw etc.
Paper production Xuan takes place in the mountain villages of Jingxian County (泾 县), _ cc781905-5cde-3194-bbcde-31905_bad5cde-3361905 -bad5cde-136dbad_w5cde-136dbad -3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_fresh mountain air and clean water and 青檀 qīngtán, that is blue sandalwood, 19ad5cf58d_19ad5c3celtiscc_19ad5cf58d_19ad5ciiceltiscc_19ad5cf58d_19ad5ciibeltiscc_19ad5cf58d_1994-5celtiscc -5cde-3194-bb3b-136bad5cf58d_ species trees from the family_cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b- bb3b-136dbad5cf05-136dbad5copi5-136dbad5cf05 .
Until today, Xuan paper is crafted by masters crafts using traditional techniques that were inscribed in 2009 on_cc781905-5cde-3194-bb3b-bb3b-136dbad5cultural heritage.
It is also worth mentioning that Xuan paper is made exclusively by hand. Attempts to make it by machine failed.
Characteristics:
Xuan paper is absorbent, strong and resistant to decay and vermin. It is also resistant to time - after 30 years, Xuan paper looks the same as the day it was made. Its ability to blur the ink varies depending on how it is processed at the production stage ._cc781905-5cde-3194- bb3b-136bad5cf58d_
When choosing a paper, you should follow this what we want to get the end result:
Types of Xuan Paper:
Shengxuan raw paper 生 宣
It is uncured rice paper, also known as "raw". This paper is very absorbent, very strongly absorbs ink and water. It has a slightly rough texture. Due to the ability to spread the ink, raw paper is recommended for traditional Chinese calligraphy and for painting 写意 Xiěyì and水墨画 Shuǐmòhuà.
Finished paper shuxuan 熟 宣
This paper is not as absorbent anymore i does not "spread" the ink, because it is pre-coated with chemical solutions_cc781905-5cde-136d_T5cde-136bad-bb3bura is quite smooth . This type of paper is best for fine painting and fine calligraphy.
Semi-finished paper banshuxuan 半熟 宣
You can also find medium fine rice paper, which combines the features of both of the above: it is still absorbent, but much less diffusive than the raw paper.
RAW PAPER:
SEMI PAPER:
SIZED PAPER:
