Basic Introduction to Dongba Paper
Dongba paper, as the name suggests, refers to the paper used for transcribing Dongba scriptures. This type of paper is thick, durable, resistant to insect damage, relatively smooth, and ivory-colored. After transcription, due to prolonged use in a room with a fire and subsequent exposure to smoke, it turns a patina-like, bronze color, giving it an antique appearance. It is made from the high-altitude wild and rare plant, Lijiang Yao flower, found in Naxi areas, through dozens of traditional handcrafting processes passed down by Dongba families. It is the thickest among all handmade papers in China and is wear-resistant. Among traditional Chinese handmade papers, only the substantial Dongba paper can be written on both sides. Because the Yao flower contains mild toxins, Dongba paper has the characteristics of being insect-resistant, resistant to moth damage, and capable of being preserved for exceptionally long periods, up to eight hundred to one thousand years. There is a saying among the Naxi people that Dongba paper can last for a thousand years.
Product Features
The paper is thick, with coarse fibers, strong resistance to insect damage, and is durable over time. It can be preserved for nearly a thousand years under natural conditions without decaying, making it one of the oldest and most primitive handmade papers in the world today. It is known as the “living fossil” of human handmade paper.
Historical Folklore
It was created during the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD) and has a history of more than 1,200 years. It was invented by the Naxi ethnic minority in Lijiang, Yunnan Province, using natural tree bark as raw material and carefully processed by hand. The production process is completely inherited from the Tang Dynasty.
Manufacturing Method
The raw material used for producing Dongba paper is the stem bark of a shrub belonging to the Thymelaeaceae family and the genus Wikstroemia. The production process includes the following steps: collecting raw materials, drying, soaking, steaming and cooking, washing, pulping, papermaking, drying, and finishing.