washi

What is washi?

Wa- Japanese, shi – paper.

A handmade paper, which has been produced in Japan since the VIIth century A.C. The initial technology has come from China, however it evolved so fast and in such way that it can be described as original and unique. In 2014, the traditional production became a part of the UNESCO World List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, and the government of Japan awards to all individuals who follow very strict principles of this trade the title of the Living National Treasure.

Where is washi made?

Until today, there are several regions in Japan that cultivate the tradition of manual paper production. Frequently these are the entire zones, in which individual workshops have co-existed next to each other for decades. The most famous are Echizen (Echizen washi, Fukui prefecture), Mino (Mino washi, Gifu prefecture), Hamada (Sekisyū washi, Shimane prefecture), Ogawa (Hosokawa shi, Saitama prefecture) and Kochi (Tosa washi, Kochi prefecture). The number of hand production facilities constantly changes, but in Echizen itself, there are approximately 150 persons involved in such manufacturing. Countrywide there are hundreds of such specialists.

Paper hand production facilities were established in locations with access to clean water. Still today, some workshops are situated at the mountain rivers, among picturesque hills, where they coexist in harmony with nature.

Material, which washi is made of.

In order to make washi it is necessary to have plant fibres of papermaking characteristics. The most popular and the most high-end domestic shrubs are kozo, gampi and mitsumata. They are used to extract bark, which following several processes „releases” single fibres.

Sometimes, depending on the characteristics, which a given paper is to have, additives of other plant fibres or clays are used.

The production of washi is considered an environment-friendly process. The plants grow very fast (the harvest is once a year). It is therefore a renewable process and it does not degrade environment.

How is washi made?

The production of a sheet of paper is a process that requires several initial pre-treatments and an extensive experience.

1. The cutting of branches of papermaking plants, their steaming in high temperature (kawahagi process) and stripping off bark.
2. The cooking of bark in an alkaline solution (shajyuku process.)
3. The manual cleaning of bark from unwanted remains (chiritori process).
4. The mashing up of bark with a wooden masher (koukai process).
5. Manual paper moulding. The moulding of a sheet on a bamboo mesh, by draining fibres from water, along with swaying – kamisuki technique.
6. The drying of sheets (kansou process).

Properties.

If we compare Japan to Europe, the implementation of other paper-producing plants as well as the process of moulding itself make washi an original material with required properties.

1. It is very durable, both in the case of folding as well as tearing. It can be re-folded several times, it can be used even 100 times to reproduce graphics and when stretched and flexed, it does not lose any of its durability.
2. It can create very thin sheets (tissue paper). For the reason that it contains long fibres, despite their fineness, they remain durable.
3. Even at a low grammage, it can be thick, but it is always light, as the content of air in between fibres is really high.
4. Its transparency is higher as compared to the sheets made in Europe.
5. Its chemical properties are stable – its acid-base indicator remains for years in the appropriate range of app. 7.00, which also contributes to its great durability.
6. Depending on the type of fibres and the production technique, it can create both glossy as well as matt sheets, of coarse or smooth surface, of the colour ranging from white to various shades of yellow.
7. It easily absorbs dyes and pigments.

The possibilities of implementation.

The initial use of washi is inseparably linked to writings and works of art.

Books, scrolls and documents are all historic materials used for writing down religious, legal or literary texts. Until today, very important notifications, for instance the announcement on birth of the emperor’s heir, are written down on handmade paper (Echizen paper is one of the kinds used for such purpose).

Paper is a very important painting material – it has been and it is still used as decoration of screens (byōbu), scrolls (kakemono, makemono), the entire walls (shoji), engravings (including mokuhanga woodcut) and drawings. Modern artists use it also for photographs, collages and artistic installations.

It is also one of basic materials for the artisans producing jewellery, lamps, fans, decorative boxes, artistic cards, dolls and even clothing.

Another enormous field where such paper plays an important part is the interior decoration. Exceptional properties of washi allow for the new arrangement of space thanks to the use of paper walls, panels, curtains, blinds and paintings.