Fuyang Paper

Fuyang Paper

　　Fuyang Paper is a specialty product of Hangzhou, Zhejiang. Fuyang produces nearly all types of traditional Chinese paper. The paper-making industry in Fuyang has a history of over 1,900 years. Fuyang is the hometown of Xie Jingchu, the creator of “Xie Gong Jian” paper, and one of China’s key production areas for handmade paper, widely known as the “Hometown of Traditional Paper.” Ancient books even stated, “One sheet of Fuyang paper sells in eighteen provinces.” Legend has it that during the Song Dynasty, a minister named Xie Fuchun often used red pavilion paper from Fuyang to present memorials to the emperor. The emperor was astonished by the paper’s pure white color and clear ink marks. Upon learning where the paper came from, he immediately decreed that “Fuchun Red Pavilion Paper” be used for official court documents and imperial examination papers. Fuyang paper is divided into two main categories: bamboo paper and straw paper, both renowned for their fine texture, softness, and elasticity. There is a wide variety of Fuyang paper, mainly including rice paper for calligraphy and painting, and the handcrafted “Kengbian Paper.”

　　The history of paper-making in Fuyang dates back to the Han Dynasty. Initially, mulberry roots were used, later replaced by rattan bark and paper mulberry bark, collectively referred to as bark paper. Among the main ingredients for bark paper, mulberry from Fuyang was considered the best. The Qing Dynasty’s “Hangzhou Prefecture Records” noted: “Female mulberry and mountain mulberry from Fuyang are of high quality, even those cultivated in other counties are called Fuyang mulberry.” During the Eastern Jin and Northern and Southern Dynasties, Fuyang began producing traditional paper using young bamboo as the raw material.

　　During the Tang Dynasty, the fine yellow-white paper produced in Fuyang was considered top-quality. By the Song Dynasty, the technology for making bamboo paper in Fuyang had advanced significantly. The Yuan Shu, Jing Paper, and Chiting Paper produced then were hailed as the three great famous papers, becoming premium choices for imperial memorials and examination papers. “Xie Gong Jian,” made from high-quality materials, gained national fame for its smooth, fine, and durable texture, leading to the saying, “The capital’s top scholars use Fuyang paper—ten sheets of Yuan Shu paper help you pass the imperial exam.” The “Fuyang County Annals” from the Qing Guangxu era recorded: “The locals mostly make a living by making paper. People of all ages work diligently, day and night without rest.”