What paper is Xuan paper?

Xuan paper is a traditional paper for painting and calligraphy in China, and it is one of the traditional paper-making processes of Han nationality. It originated in Jingxian County, Xuancheng, Anhui Province, and was named "Xuan Paper" after the government ruled Xuancheng.

Xuan paper has good ink wetting property, strong durability, aging resistance and difficult discoloration. Xuan paper is tough and moist, smooth but not slippery, white and dense, pure in texture, lossless in rubbing, strong in ink wetting, and unique in permeability and lubricity. Pen and ink are divided into five colors, that is, a shade is completed, the texture is visible, the Mo Yun is distinct, and the layers are distinct. Insects eat less and live longer. Xuan paper has been known as "the king of paper, the paper of a thousand years" since ancient times.

The selection of Xuan paper is closely related to the geographical environment of Jingxian county, where it is produced. As Pteroceltis tatarinowii is one of the main local tree species, Pteroceltis tatarinowii bark has become the main raw material of rice paper. At the beginning, there was no straw as raw material. Later, in the process of leather processing, straw was used to fill the pile feet, and it was found that it could also become white pulp. Later, straw became one of the main raw materials of rice paper. Among the straws, Jingxian high-quality Shatian long-stalk indica rice is the best. This is because this kind of straw is more fibrous than ordinary straw, not easy to rot and easy to bleach naturally, so there has been such a saying since ancient times: "I would rather have Jingxian grass than Tongling skin."