First published in 2002 by Tuttle Publishing, an imprint of Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd., with editorial offices at 364 Innovation Drive, North Clarendon,VT 05759
Copyright © 2002 Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Tuttle Publishing.
ISBN: 978-1-4629-0678-9 (ebook)
LCC Card Number 2002108052
Previously published in 2002 as Wonderful Ways with Washi
Distributed by:
Japan
Tuttle Publishing
Yaekari Building, 3rd Floor
5-4-12 Osaki, Shinagawa-ku
Tokyo 141-0032
Tel (03) 5437 0171 Fax (03) 5437 0755
North America, Latin America and Europe
Tuttle Publishing
364 Innovation Drive
North Clarendon,VT 05759-9436
Tel (802) 773 8930 Fax (802) 773 6993
[email protected] www.tuttlepublishing.com
Asia Pacific
Berkeley Books Pte Ltd
61 Tai Seng Avenue, #02-12
Singapore 534167
Tel (65) 6280 1330 Fax (65) 6280 6290
[email protected] www.periplus.com
Second edition
10 09 08 07 06
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Printed in Singapore
TUTTLE PUBLISHING® is a registered trademark of Tuttle Publishing, a division of Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd.
Contents
Cherry Blossom Box in Two Sizes
Crane Pencil Holder and Pencil
Obi Wall Hanging, Refrigerator Magnet and Ornament
Introduction
Washi, literally "traditional Japanese paper", is the Japanese word for all types of paper, including traditional handmade sheets as well as similar-looking papers produced by modern manufacturing methods. This book, however, is concerned with the paper made by hand by artisans all over Japan.
Washi paper is the material of the craftsman, the painter, the calligrapher, the designer, the architect, and the tea master. Paper screens are an integral part of every house. People in both town and country use Japanese paper in all aspects of their daily lives: in umbrellas, fans, lanterns, lamps, containers, toys, origami, and other crafts. In Shinto rites, paper symbolizes the purifying aspect of the god.
Although the art of making paper was first developed in China, it spread to Japan in the seventh century AD along with Buddhism. Buddhist monks initially produced it for writing scriptures, but the flowering of a court culture during the Heian period (794—1192) created a demand for official papers and for decorated sheets for poetry and diaries. This, in turn, stimulated the development of government mills as well as a local cottage industry. The decline of the imperial court and the rise of the samurai warrior class after AD 1192, led to a demand for good-quality utility paper, while the development of printing and the architectural use of paper in sliding screens and doors added a new dimension to paper consumption. By the late 1800s, more than 100,000 Japanese families were making paper by hand for everyday use—for utensils, housing, and even clothing. After the opening of Japan to the West during the Meiji Restoration, mechanized paper-making technology was introduced to Japan, creating stiff competition for local paper-making households. However, a vigorous folk craft market from the mid-1920s, as well as a publishing boom after World War II, stimulated a demand for large quantities of handmade paper. Although only 350 families were still actively producing Washi in the mid-1990s, the unbelievable range of color, textures, and designs of the papers which continue to be produced, is testimony to Japan's unrivalled skill in all types of paper making. Japan continues to produce a greater quantity and variety and a higher quality of handmade paper than the rest of the world combined.
Washi is traditionally made by hand from the long inner fibers of the bark of three native plants: the kozo, mitsumata, and gampi. Kozo (Broussonetia kazinoki) is a shrub of the mulberry family. Reaching 3 meters at full growth, the plant is easy to cultivate and regenerates annually. The inner bast fiber is the longest, thickest and strongest of the three plants and is therefore the most widely used in paper-making; kozo is also considered the masculine element, the protector. Mitsumata (Edgeworthia chrysantha), a shrub of the daphne family, reaches a height of 2 meters. Graceful, delicate and soft—it is said to be the feminine element—it can be harvested only once every three years after planting and its paper is therefore more expensive. Because its fiber is thin and soft, it produces smooth paper with excellent printability. It is also insect resistant. Gampi (Wikstroemia sikokiana), like mitsumata, is a shrub of the daphne family, reaching a height of 2 meters when mature. The earliest fiber to be used for paper making, and considered to be the noblest because of its richness, dignity and longevity, the long, thin fibers produce the most lustrous