Dongba paper-making skill is the art of which minority?

Dongba papermaking process is a traditional process of Naxi nationality.

Naxi people mainly live in Lijiang and Shangri-La in northwest Yunnan and believe in Dongba. They still retain a complete belief system of Dongba religion and its related Dongba culture. Dongba culture is an important part of Naxi culture, including Dongba scriptures, Dongba paintings, Dongba music and Dongba dances.

Dongba paper is a special paper specially used by Dongba priests of Naxi nationality to record Dongba scriptures and draw Dongba paintings. This kind of paper is durable, insect-proof, light and tough, and it is an important carrier of Dongba culture of Naxi nationality.

Dongba paper making process is one of the traditional processes of Naxi nationality. The making process is very complicated and needs to go through many processes. First of all, we should choose specific plant fibers as raw materials and make them into papermaking raw materials through soaking, bleaching, drying and other processes. Next, the raw materials need to be cooked, beaten and pressed to make paper. Finally, after gluing, drying and other processes, the paper can be made.

Dongba papermaking technology is one of the living fossils of traditional papermaking in China, which has extremely high historical and cultural value. It not only embodies the wisdom and creativity of Naxi people, but also shows the unique charm of traditional papermaking in China.

Development course of Dongba papermaking technology;

The development of Dongba paper manufacturing technology can be traced back to ancient papermaking in China. Cai Lun invented papermaking in the Eastern Han Dynasty, using bark, broken fishing nets, rags and hemp as raw materials to make plant fiber paper suitable for writing. This invention was widely spread in China, and gradually spread to Korea, Japan, Tang Dynasty and Arabia.

In the long river of history, Dongba papermaking technology has experienced many important milestones. In the 1940s, scholars investigated and counted this traditional paper-making technology, and found that there were more than 5,000 volumes of Dongba Sutra written with this paper. These scriptures have become an important carrier to carry forward Dongba culture. In addition, Locke, an Austrian-American scholar, also investigated this traditional papermaking process and introduced it in detail in his works.

With the passage of time, Dongba paper making technology has gradually developed into a handicraft with practical and cultural value. It is not only an ideal paper for copying Dongba Sutra, but also an important carrier for displaying Naxi traditional culture. Some scholars and experts have also begun to study this traditional technology in depth and explore how to carry it forward. Through on-the-spot investigation, data collection and literature collation, they have made important contributions to the protection and inheritance of Dongba papermaking technology.