The Making of Xuan

Xuan Paper

Photos and video by Henry Li. Text by Casey Shannon and Tai Oi Yee

Xuan paper is one of the 'Four Treasures of the Study' and highly regarded as a treasure by sumi (ink) artists. Xuan (Shuen) paper is very fine paper used by calligraphy and sumi-e artists. It is thin mulberry bark paper ( called Xuan paper in China and Washi paper in Japan).  It is also generically called "rice paper" in the west though rice is not one of the ingredients.   It is highly absorbent and unforgiving.  The brushstrokes have to be fluid and fast, and mistakes cannot be masked like on watercolor paper. Xuan Paper takes practice to use.

This paper is the brush painter's canvas. Mastering the way ink behaves on the different rice papers is one of the essential skills of the brush painter. There are basically two kinds of rice paper -- raw paper and sized paper. Shuen Paper (Xuan Paper) is raw paper and the most popular paper in China among brush painters and calligraphers. It is the most sensitive of the rice papers, cheerfully displaying dynamic strokes and complex shade variations with translucent fluidity and original spontaneity.  Any brush painter will tell you it is difficult to work with rice paper and takes years of practice to master.

Interesting fact: The reason Xuan Paper is called 'Rice Paper' in the West is because when the West came to the East, China wanted to protect it's paper making techniques and told Westerners that the paper was made from rice. 

 Mulberry Trees in Anhui, China

Quigtan Trees outside the paper mills.

Photo Courtesy of Henry Li

Xuan paper is made all by hand. There is no machinery used in the production of this treasured paper. For this reason, Xuan paper is very special and expensive.

My artist friend Henry Li recently went to China and visited the paper mill in Anhui, China. He filmed this very informative video of the paper being made in all the stages of creation. Enjoy!

  For more information on 'The Four Treasures' go: Here 

Director of North America Branch - ICCPS

International Chinese Calligraphy and Ink Painting Society

国際中国書法国画家協会アメリカ支部：Ms. Casey Shannon　アメリカ現代水墨画家

Casey Shannon Studio

凱西香儂齋

 

The Four Treasures

The Four Treasures of Study
Article by Tai Oi Yee and Casey Shannon

Sumi-e is inkwash brush painting originating from China over a thousand years ago, and embraced enthusiastically in Japan, Korea and now internationally. The name sumi-e literally means water+ink+painting 水墨畫. 

Ink wash painting uses soot ink on thin mulberry bark paper or silk. Different tones and shades are achieved by varying the ink density and brush pressure. It is not simply to reproduce the appearance of the subject, but to capture its soul. Sumi-e is the timeless unison of the true self and the universe. It is the expression of the mind and spirit of the artist through the Four Treasures (文房四寶) .

Sumi-e and Calligraphy artists have the utmost respect for the Four Treasures:

The Four Treasures of Study

    1. Brush (筆): The ink brush is usually made of goat, rabbit, or yellow weasel hair. The textures are soft, hard or mixed depending on the artist's use.




   2. Ink (墨) :  Ink sticks are made of soot mixed with animal glue, and sometimes aromatic or medicinal powders. Modern artists sometimes use bottled ink as it is readily available. However, there are many preservatives in even the most expensive bottled ink and it can ruin brushes.



   3. Paper (紙) :  It is not just any kind of paper. It is thin mulberry bark paper (Xuan or Pi paper from China and Washi paper from Japan). It is also generically called "rice paper" in the west though rice is not one of the ingredients.   It is highly absorbent and unforgiving.  The brushstrokes have to be fluid and fast, and mistakes cannot be masked like on watercolor paper.

Did you know? That Westerners call Xuan paper 'Rice Paper' because when The West entered the East, China wanted to keep paper making a secret and told them it was made of rice! 

   4.  Inkstone (硯) : The inkstone is used for grinding the ink stick with water. The four famous inkstones are Duan, She, Tao and Chengni. Grinding your ink before you paint provides you with a quiet state of mind and a way to let  spirit surround you.

This ink stone is an ornate one and very beautiful. This ink slab was carved in a 'cucurbit' shape. This shape stands for good fortune and every success.

These four items are treasured by the sumi-e and calligraphy artist. They are essential to this ancient art.  

  

      Casey Shannon Studio
凱西香儂齋 

Director of the North American Branch - ICCPS 

International Chinese Calligraphy and Ink Painting Society

国際中国書法国画家協会アメリカ支部：Ms. Casey Shannon アメリカ現代水墨画家 

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