Japanese paper "Washi"

 Japan has traditional paper which is called “Washi”. Washi is a long lasting than ordinary paper by long fiber that make up it. Many books written on Washi are still from more than thousand years ago.

It has long history. Its origin was in China. In 610, the paper technology was introduced from Goguryeo that is one of ancient Korean country. The technology was used for coping Buddhist manuscript. (There is different view that it was introduced in 4 or 5 century in form of book.)

Washi has been used for not only writing but also various purposes. Japanese old umbrella, Husuma, Shouji and Chouchin are made up by Wasi.    Why Japanese people use paper like this? First reason is strength of Wasi.  We simply think that paper is weak and flammable, it isn’t suitable for parts of house, umbrella and surrounding fire. But Wasi is made of strong fiber and reinforced with glue so that become hard and can resist moisture and heat. Second reason is its beauty. Japanese in old age liked the white color of paper. They regarded the white as symbol of innocent and purity. High status people liked using white paper as furnishing. Now, the whiteness of Wasi is inferior to modern paper. But shadowy light through Wasi has beauty which hasn’t something similar and Japanese like it.

　Thanks for Wasi, calligraphy has developed in Japan. Writing become art  precisely because with brush. Wasi’s water retaining capacity enable to write with brush. Japanese traditional culture has strong relationship with Wasi.

Born of paper

Paper is the one of the greatest materials that human beings invented　and the symbol of history . Paper seems to be invented in China.

Before paper was devised, in the In(殷) era, letters was inscribed on animal bones(mainly cattle’s and deer’s scapula) and tortoise carapaces called Ko-kotsu character(甲骨文字) .They were mainly used for fortunate-telling.

In the Shu(周) era to the Spring and Autumn and Warring states(春秋戦国) era, characters was carved on stones and metal called Kinseki character(金石文). It is so suitable to remain and bring words to posterity.  Narrow strip of wood (called 木簡) and bamboo(called 竹簡) was used practically. They can be reused by shaving their surface but they are heavy and bulky.

In the Han(漢) era, how to make paper today was invented. The way is to break bark and hemp, called “pulp”, smash, to dissolve them in water, to spread them equally, and to dry them. Paper is thin and light, therefore it is very portable and able to keep lots. Sai-rin（蔡倫）, was a eunuch in the Later Han(後漢) era which was Chinese particular government official , is well-known to invent paper, However he seems to improve how to make paper actually because a piece of paper was excavated from the ruin in the Han(漢) era. Today, Sai-rin is believed warmly for Chinese as the God of paper.  Afterward, paper was brought to Europe via Islam and spread all over the world and today paper is familiar.

Parchment

 Parchment is a kind of a paper that is mainly used in Europe of middle age. It is very durable because of way to make it. The parchment is made from beast skin, for example, sheep, horse, and so on. The way to make it is same as the way to make leather. A different point on making parchment is to pull leather from all sides with strong power to fix fibers. This action makes parchment thin and well to write. On the other hand, chemical treatment is used in making leather. It is different point. Parchment has the right side and the reverse side, the side which had stick flesh and the other side which had had furs.

Parchment is made in about 3 steps. First, we need wash the animal skin because skin is dirty. Second step is washing a skin to take away furs and fats. Final step is pulling skin with woody frame. In making parchment, maker must stand smell of skin.

Parchment first appeared in ancient Egypt (about 2500 B.C.). Then, Parchment is a thick. On other words, ancient Egyptians wrote a letter on leather itself. However, it is B.C. 600 that the leather changed its figure into “parchment”. In short, the “parchment” that we know as the paper made from animal skin was born then. And, the center of a parchment was Turkey. A method to make parchment that is used in present was invented in that place. Later, Turkey had been the part of the Roman Empire. So, parchment spread in the country. In the middle ages, because of using of the church to make the Bibles, Parchments spread in very wade area. However, parchment was still expensive because of difficulty of making parchment.

Even today, parchment is expensive. However, the parchment is a sturdy than paper, long-lasting. Therefore, this could be used to such official document.

Papyrus

 A thing like current paper came up in the history for the first time about 5000years ago. In ancient Egypt, people invented `papyrus` to stack the fiber of the plant called the papyrus in length and breadth.

Papyrus is became the etymology of paper, Ancient egypt got global fame and fortune by a papyrus and the export of textiles. However, what would they make papyrus for?

 It is a hieroglyph that was drawn on the papyrus. The letter whitch is readable only to some secretary even in those days was used astronomy, astrology, religion. It is because papyrus was poor at folding, the papyrus was used as rolled drapery.
 As means to succeed to the next generation while following important information, papyrus was born.

 By an appearance of the Islam power, the manufacturing method of the paper of the east transmission was introduced, and the use of the papyrus went out of fashion. However, the cultivation of the papyrus grass is introduced into Sicily and is slightly made even today.