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
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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
