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Manufacture
Washi is produced in a way similar to that of ordinary paper, but fewer chemicals are used. 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 inhibits bacteria, preventing the decomposition of the fibers. Cold also makes the fibers contract, producing a crisp feel to the paper. It is traditionally the winter work of farmers, a task that supplemented a farmer's income.
Kozo is the most commonly used fiber in making Japanese paper. The kozo branches are boiled and stripped of their outer bark, and then dried. The fibers are then boiled with lye to remove the starch, fat and tannin, and then placed in running water to remove the lye. The fibers are then bleached (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 kozo is laid on a rock or board and beaten.
Wet balls of pulp are mixed in a vat with water (and, in some cases, neri, which is a mucilaginous material made from the roots of the tororo plant) and 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.
Applications
Until the early 20th century, the Japanese used washi in applications where wood pulp paper or other materials would normally have been used. This is partly because washi was cheaper, but also because the unique characteristics of washi made it a better material. The different uses of washi are too numerous to mention, but include the following:
Art
- Ikebana — the art of flower arrangement, also known as kadō
- Katazome — a method of dyeing fabrics using a resist paste
- Origami — the art of paper folding
- Printmaking
- Sculpture
- Sewing
- Shibori — several methods of dyeing cloth with a pattern
- Shodo — the art of calligraphy
- Ukiyo-e — a genre of woodblock prints
Clothing
Furniture
Objects
- Bags
- Bento box
- Japanese banknotes
- Plates
- Scale models
- Toys
- Umbrellas
- Harae-Gushi, the washi whisk used for ritual purification by Shinto priests
- Loudspeaker cones. Mitsubishi
Events
Weaponry
History
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- The United States Constitution was printed on Kozogami washi paper.
Types 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 (雁皮紙) - In ancient times, it was called Hishi (斐紙). Ganpishi has a smooth, shiny surface and is used for books and crafts.
- Kozogami (楮紙) - Kozogami is made from paper mulberry and it 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 (三椏紙) - Mitsumatagami has an ivory-colored, fine surface and is used for shodo as well as printing. It was used to print paper money in Meiji period.
See also: List of Washi
People and Washi
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Please help improve this section by expanding it. Further information might be found on the talk page or at requests for expansion. (June 2008) |
See also
External links
