Xuan paper
- Scope note
- Handmade paper from the bark of the Tara Wing-Celtis (Pteroceltis tatarinowii) or Blue Sandalwood tree and rice straw. It was originally and continues to be produced in Jing County, now in Anhui Province in eastern China. The county was under the jurisdiction of Xuanzhou Prefecture in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), hence its name. The paper is known for its strong, smooth surface, its ability to absorb water and moisten ink, and fold repeatedly without breaking. It has been widely used in calligraphy, painting and book printing, and increasingly in conservation work. In the western world, it has at times been characterized as rice paper, although wood bark is traditionally its main ingredient with rice straw added.
- Date of creation: 18-Nov-2024
Accepted term: 18-Nov-2024