Washi

For other uses, seeWashi (disambiguation).

Sugiharagami( sam giấy nguyên liệu ), a kind ofwashi

Washi-tape

Washi(Cùng giấy)is traditional Japanesepaperprocessed by hand using fibers from the inner bark of thegampitree, themitsumatashrub (Edgeworthia chrysantha), or thepaper mulberry(kōzo) bush.

Washiis generally tougher than ordinary paper made fromwood pulp,and is used in many traditional arts.Origami,shodō,andukiyo-ewere all produced usingwashi.Washiwas also used to make various everyday goods like clothes, household goods, and toys, as well as vestments and ritual objects forShintopriests and statues ofBuddha.It was even used to makewreathsthat were given to winners in the1998 Winter Paralympics.Washiis also used to repair historically valuable cultural properties, paintings, and books at museums and libraries around the world, such as theLouvreand theVatican Museums,because of its thinness, pliability, durability over 1000 years because of its low impurities, and high workability to remove it cleanly with moisture.

As aJapanese craft,it is registered as a UNESCOintangible cultural heritage.

History

Washi-making atIse, Mie

By the 7th century, paper had been introduced to Japan from China via the Korean Peninsula, and the Japanese developed washi by improving the method of making paper in theHeian period.The paper making technique developed in Japan around 805 to 809 was callednagashi-suki(Lưu し lộc き),a method of addingmucilageto the process of the conventionaltame-suki(Lưu め lộc き)technique to form a stronger layer of paper fibers.The improved washi came to be used to decorate religious ceremonies such asgohei,ōnusa(ja: Cần sa ( thần đạo )), andshideatShinto shrines,and in the Heian period, washi covered with gold and silver leaf beautifully decorated books such asKokin Wakashu.

In theMuromachi period,washi came to be used asceremonial origamiforsamuraiclass at weddings and when giving gifts,and from theSengoku periodto theEdo period,recreational origamisuch asorizurudeveloped.During the Edo period, many books andukiyo-eprints for the masses made of washi were published usingwoodblock printing.

Manufacture

Origamicranesmade ofwashi

Washiis produced in a way similar to that of ordinary paper, but relies heavily on manual methods. It involves a long and intricate process that is often undertaken in the cold weather of winter, as pure, cold running water is essential to the production of washi. Cold inhibitsbacteria,preventing the decomposition of thefibres.Cold also makes the fibres contract, producing a crisp feel to the paper. It is traditionally the winter work of farmers, a task that supplemented a farmer's income.

Paper mulberryis the most commonly used fiber in making Japanese paper. The mulberry branches are boiled and stripped of their outer bark, and then dried. The fibers are then boiled withlyeto remove thestarch,fatandtannin,and then placed in running water to remove the spent lye. The fibers are thenbleached(either with chemicals or naturally, by placing it in a protected area of a stream) and any remaining impurities in the fibers are picked out by hand. The product is laid on a rock or board and beaten.

Wet balls of pulp are mixed in a vat with water and a formation aid to help keep the long fibers spread evenly. This is traditionallyneri,which is amucilaginousmaterial made from the roots of thetororo aoi plant,or PEO,polyethylene oxide.One of two traditional methods of paper making (nagashi-zuki or tame-zuki) is employed. In both methods, pulp is scooped onto a screen and shaken to spread the fibers evenly. Nagashi-zuki (which uses neri in the vat) produces a thinner paper, while tame-zuki (which does not use neri) produces a thicker paper.

Types

See also:List of washi

With enough processing, almost any grass or tree can be made into a washi. Gampi, mitsumata, and paper mulberry are three popular sources.

• Ganpishi(Nhạn giấy dai):In ancient times, it was calledHishi(Phỉ giấy).Ganpishi has a smooth, shiny surface and is used for books and crafts.
• Kōzogami(Chử giấy):Kōzogami is made from paper mulberry and is the most widely made type of washi. It has a toughness closer to cloth than to ordinary paper and does not weaken significantly when treated to be water-resistant.
• Mitsumatagami(Tam nha giấy):Made frommitsumata,mitsumatagami has an ivory-colored, fine surface and is used forshodōas well as printing. It has been used to print paper money since theMeiji periodand continues to be used today.

Applications

Until the early 20th century, the Japanese usedwashiin applications where Western style paper or other materials are currently used. This is partly because washi was the only type of paper available at that time in Japan, but also because the unique characteristics of washi made it a better material.

Washiis also used inwatchdials.

See also

• Genkō yōshi
• Japanese tissue
• Rice paper
• Sir Harry Parkes
• Tissue paper
• Ukiyo-e

Further reading

• Fukushima, Kurio (1991).Handbook on the Art of Washi.All Japan Handmade Washi Association.

External links

• "Washi".Japanese Architecture and Art Net Users System.
• WashiArchived2012-04-07 at theWayback Machine