The Origin of Miao Floral Paper

Many people who have seen Guizhou Danzhai decal will never forget such a beautiful and elegant embossed paper. In fact, these exquisite and elegant white flowers and plants paper in Danzhai not only has beautiful fine lines and pure natural embossing, but also its papermaking method originated from the oldest manual papermaking method in China. If you turn to Ying Xing's Heavenly Creations in the Ming Dynasty and compare it carefully with the article "Killing Green", you will be surprised to find that the practice of these Danzhai decals is exactly the same as that of ancient papermaking more than 1000 years ago.

Many Miao villages in Guizhou still retain the most primitive production and lifestyle, which is done at sunrise and stopped at sunset. Time flows quietly here. They are the last pure land and the last bird totem tribe in today's impetuous civilization. In some remote villages in southeastern Guizhou, there is an ancient papermaking technique that has been passed down for thousands of years. According to experts' research, its production process belongs to the papermaking process in Tang Dynasty.

Miao ancestors used to be the main residents of Chu, living in the Central Plains, and later moved to Yunnan and Guizhou for a long time. They used the paper-making technology of the Han people at that time for reference, and used the local resources in Yunnan and Guizhou: Broussonetia papyrifera bark, Chinese fir roots and clear river water as raw materials to build the original paper-making workshop. Legend has it that this ancient papermaking technology originated in Cai Lun. Therefore, people in the paper workshop hold a grand event every year on auspicious day to worship Cai Lun, the originator of papermaking.

The Miao ancient papermaking workshop produced two kinds of white paper and colored paper, and its production technology was basically the same as that recorded in Tiangong in Han and Song Dynasties. This is the conclusion reached by experts from the China History Museum. It is believed that its form and structure, such as cymbals, cymbals, waterwheels and crankshafts, are exactly the same as those of Wu Kai in Tiangong.

The raw materials for producing white paper are Broussonetia papyrifera and Chinese fir roots. Much like the cloud in the Biography of Cai Lun in the later Han Dynasty: "Take bark, hemp head, cloth and fishing net as paper". It is considered to be a papermaking process from Han Dynasty to Tang Dynasty. It has a history of 1400 and 500 years. In 2005, Miao ancient papermaking technology was listed as the first intangible cultural heritage by the state.

In the long river of gurgling time, Miao ancient papermaking has the following basic characteristics:

1, material characteristics. Paper-making hemp is produced in karst mountain area, which has the characteristics of uniform and fine fibers, high pulp forming rate, good flexibility, good gloss and strong water absorption, and is the main reason for the excellent wetting performance of white paper ink.

2. Process characteristics. First of all, the processing of white paper from raw materials to paper requires 10 multiple processes. Its production skill depends only on the words and deeds of the master, and it usually takes 3-65,438+00 years to master it skillfully. Secondly, raw materials are treated by sun exposure, rain exposure and dew training. , all handmade, natural, without adding industrial raw materials.

3. Product features. This kind of paper is white, elastic, tensile, flat and absorbent. It is the best paper for calligraphy and painting.

4. The value of historical research. The production of white paper can be traced back to the papermaking technology in the Tang Dynasty, with a history of 1400 or 500 years. This is of great significance to the study of papermaking technology and its political, economic, cultural and social development from Han Dynasty to Tang Dynasty.

5. Cultural values. White paper has important cultural value, and it is the symbol of China's painting and calligraphy art, which complements each other. It is an indispensable carrier of cultural heritage.

6. Process value. The production process of white paper is complex, and the fineness and requirements of each process are relatively high. These production technologies are the wisdom crystallization of Miao people's long-term labor, which is irreplaceable by modern technology. Its scientific truth is self-evident, and it is an extremely valuable historical heritage.

There are two kinds of finished paper in ancient times: white paper and colored paper. Among them, colored paper can be divided into six series: Yunlong paper, wrinkled paper, concave-convex paper, flattened paper, patterned paper and hemp paper.