Basic Introduction to Duan Calligraphy and Painting Paper
Duan Calligraphy and Painting Paper is a specialty of Duan Yao Autonomous County, Hechi City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The paper is characterized by its whiteness, fine toughness, softness, and unique ink absorption properties. It combines the strong tensile strength of gauze paper and skin paper with the ink-absorbing effect of Xuan paper, making it a high-quality paper for calligraphy, painting, mounting, and rubbings. It has been widely favored by the art community for many years.
Duan Yao Autonomous County is located in the mid-western part of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and in the southern part of Hechi City, between longitudes 107°51′ to 108°30′ east and latitudes 23°47′ to 24°35′ north. To the east are Xincheng County and Yizhou City, while across the Hongshui River to the south lies Mashan County. To the west, it borders Dahua Yao Autonomous County, and to the north, it adjoins Jinchengjiang District of Hechi City. Duan is situated at the foot of the slope where the Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau transitions into the Guangxi Basin. The terrain is generally higher in the northwest and lower in the southeast. The highest areas, including Longfu, Xiaao, Bao'an, and Sanzhongyang, have peak elevations mostly ranging from 800 to 1,000 meters, with valleys and depressions at altitudes of 600 to 800 meters. The regions around Disu, Chengjiang, and Baiwang are relatively lower, with peaks mostly between 400 and 600 meters in elevation, and valleys and depressions generally at 145 to 200 meters. The lowest point in Baiwang has an altitude of just 80 meters. Soils in Duan include red soil, yellow soil, limestone soil, red limestone soil, purple soil, alluvial soil, and paddy soil, among which limestone soil is the most widespread, covering over 90% of the county's total area. [3] Duan County has a subtropical monsoon climate, with frequent rain and low sunlight hours in spring; hot, humid summers with concentrated rainfall; often clear and dry autumns, sometimes leading to drought; and cold winters with scarce precipitation. The average annual rainfall in the county is 1,726 millimeters. [4] The region is vast and covered by forests, primarily composed of pine, fir, eucalyptus, cottonwood, maple, nux vomica trees, and more. Precious tree species include golden plum, Goniothalamus, sky-high trees, and highland cypress. There are also numerous varieties of economic forest trees, fruit plants, medicinal plants, and raw materials for papermaking. Dragon's beard grass grown locally is the primary raw material for Duan Calligraphy and Painting Paper.
Duan Calligraphy and Painting Paper is characterized by its whiteness, fine toughness, and softness. It possesses the strong tensile strength of gauze paper and skin paper and the ink-absorbing effect of Xuan paper, making it a high-quality paper for calligraphy, painting, mounting, and rubbings. A single sheet of this delicate paper embodies the wisdom of our ancestors and is imbued with the passage of time through its written words.
Product Characteristics
Duan Calligraphy and Painting Paper is characterized by its soft, resilient texture, smooth surface with subtle bamboo mat patterns, and neatly cut edges. The paper does not have any defects that affect its use, such as creases, tears, holes, sand particles, or foreign objects. This paper has the strong tensile strength of gauze paper and skin paper, and the ink-absorbing effect of Xuan paper, producing a dark ink color and allowing the ink to spread gracefully.
Historical and Cultural Context
Duan Calligraphy and Painting Paper is based on the 300-year-old production techniques of gauze paper in Duan Yao Autonomous County, utilizing high-quality local raw materials—the dragon's beard grass—and integrating modern pulp and paper-making technologies. This paper possesses the strong tensile strength of gauze paper and skin paper and the ink-absorbing effect of Xuan paper. Its most significant distinction from other similar products is its whiteness, resistance to yellowing, protection against pests, and durability. Duan Calligraphy and Painting Paper is a high-quality paper for calligraphy, painting, mounting, and rubbings and is highly regarded in the artistic community.
Manufacturing Process
The manufacturing process involves soaking and pulping the dragon's beard grass pulp boards, followed by papermaking in a vat.
Awards and Honors Received by Duan Calligraphy and Painting Paper
On December 29, 2017, the former General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China approved geographical indication product protection for “Duan Calligraphy and Painting Paper.”
In 2020, the production technique of Duan Calligraphy and Painting Paper was listed in the eighth batch of representative projects of intangible cultural heritage at the autonomous regional level.