Tibetan papermaking skills

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Tibetan papermaking skills

Applicant: Tibet Autonomous Region

Item No.: 419

Project No.: VIII - 69

Time of publication: 2006 (the first batch)

Category: traditional art

Region: Tibet Autonomous Region

Type: new item

Applicant: Tibet Autonomous Region

Protection unit: Lhasa CAIQUAN welfare National Handicraft Co., Ltd

Introduction to Tibetan papermaking skills:

Applicant: Tibet Autonomous Region

It has been more than 1300 years since Princess Wencheng of Tang Dynasty married Tubo. Since the 8th century, in order to translate scriptures, the Tibetan people have been learning from the advanced papermaking techniques of the surrounding nationalities and producing Tibetan paper with unique local characteristics.

The main raw materials of Tibetan paper are Stellera chamaejasme, Aquilaria Aquilaria, Dengtai tree of dogwood family and camellia of Rhododendron family. According to the quality difference of raw materials, Tibetan paper of various uses and grades can be made. Papermaking process generally includes peeling, chopping, cooking, retting, rinsing, ramming, beating, papermaking and other links. Tibetan paper industry has not only been promoted in Tibet, but also introduced to India, Nepal, Bhutan and other countries.

With the development of society and history, the pattern of common development of various kinds of papermaking techniques has been formed in Tibet. Kangzhi paper is abundant in eastern Tibet, Jindong paper, tabu paper, Gongbu paper, Bodui paper and menzhi paper (in Luoba and Menba areas) are abundant in southern Tibet, Ni paper, Zang paper, Nie paper (in nyalamu paper), mengga paper, grey paper and Ali paper are abundant in Weizang area. With the improvement and popularization of papermaking technology, a large number of famous craftsmen have emerged in the paper industry, creating a lot of exquisite paper, such as Jindong paper, which is produced in Jindong of tabu and is well-known in the whole collection, and Nimu poisonous paper, which is suitable for the use of literature in the collection. Many special paper products are even more impressive to the world, such as the exquisite paper for printing banknotes and stamps, the exquisite paper for making gold juice and silver juice Sutra, etc.

Due to the lack of oxygen and dryness in the plateau, the raw materials have certain toxicity, so the Tibetan paper has the characteristics of anti-corrosion, moth proof and moisture-proof, which is easy to keep for a long time. The paper is flexible, durable, rich in color, and has decorative beauty.

It is necessary to protect this important intangible cultural heritage because of its excellent paper collection skills, long history and rich experience in paper production.