Ciren Duojie- Inheritor of Tibetan Paper Making Skills in Tibet

Ciren Duojie (次仁多杰) is one of the earliest representatives of Tibetan paper making skills (藏族造纸技艺) recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage inheritor. He has dedicated over 70 years to the art of Shiela Tibetan paper (雪拉藏纸), a traditional handicraft in Tibet that involves making paper by hand, using wolf’s poison grass (狼毒草) as the main raw material. Duojie is from a family with a long history in Tibetan paper making, and he has contributed significantly to its preservation, innovation, and transmission.

Personal Information

  • Name: Ciren Duojie (次仁多杰)

  • Ethnicity: Tibetan (藏族)

  • Birth Year: 1951

  • Region: Nimu County (尼木县), Lhasa, Tibet (拉萨)

  • Representative Project: Tibetan Paper Making Skills (藏族造纸技艺)

  • Inheritor Title: National Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritor (国家级非物质文化遗产传承人)

  • Heritage Registration: Included in the National Intangible Cultural Heritage List in 2006 (2006年列入)

  • Inheritor Recognition: Officially recognized in 2009 (2009年)

Heritage Journey

Ciren Duojie was born into a family deeply engaged in Tibetan paper making, with the craft passed down from his grandfather’s generation. His journey with Tibetan paper making began at the age of 14 when he learned the intricate techniques of paper making from his father. Over time, he mastered the key processes involved in creating Shiela Tibetan paper, including handling raw materials and the nine essential stages of paper-making such as peeling, crushing, and cooking.

After Tibetan paper making was included in the first batch of National Intangible Cultural Heritage in 2006, Duojie was officially named a representative inheritor of the tradition in 2009. In 2011, with the support of the government, he established a Tibetan paper factory, generating an annual revenue of 240,000 RMB.

Key Achievements

  • Duojie’s family has been the sole inheritor of the Shiela Tibetan paper making technique in Nimu County (尼木县), where they maintain the traditional methods of this ancient craft.

  • His innovative efforts have led to the development of creative products like flower-petal layered paper (花瓣夹层纸) and Tibetan paper lanterns (藏纸灯笼), which have gained significant cultural and commercial value.

Craft Features

The Shiela Tibetan paper is made from wolf’s poison grass roots, which are processed through various steps, including peeling, crushing, and steaming, to form a pulp. This pulp is then handcrafted into paper using traditional methods. The final product possesses three key characteristics:

1. Durability

  • The paper is resistant to insect damage, rotting, and tearing, making it highly durable. (虫不蛀、不腐烂、不易撕破)

2. Stability

  • The paper can be preserved for thousands of years without losing its color. (可保存千年不变色)

3. Innovation

  • Ciren Duojie’s innovations include developing layered papers with flower petals and creating Tibetan paper lanterns for decorative purposes. (研发花瓣夹层纸、藏纸灯笼等文创产品)

Duojie is deeply committed to the handcrafted nature of the paper-making process, believing that hand-made paper offers greater flexibility and quality compared to machine-made paper. (手工纸比机械纸更具延展性)

Social Impact and Innovation

By 2023, Duojie’s family remains the only one in Nimu County to have fully inherited and passed on the Shiela Tibetan paper making skills. He has played a key role in expanding the reach of this traditional craft in several ways:

1. Technological Improvements

  • Duojie worked on optimizing the ratio of materials and addressed challenges related to the cultivation of wolf’s poison grass, ensuring a steady supply of high-quality raw materials. (优化原料配比，解决狼毒草种植难题)

2. Economic Impact

  • The establishment of the Tibetan paper factory has not only provided Duojie’s family with a steady income but has also helped lift local impoverished households out of poverty, with an annual sales figure of 240,000 RMB. The factory has contributed to the economic growth of the surrounding community. (辐射带动周边贫困户和农牧民脱贫增收)

3. Modern Outreach

  • Duojie’s granddaughter, Puzhen (普珍), has utilized e-commerce platforms to promote the intangible heritage products and introduce Tibetan handicrafts to a wider audience. (通过电商平台推广非遗产品)

4. Educational Legacy

  • Duojie has established a cultural inheritance base in Nimu County (尼木县), where he teaches both the art of paper making and also showcases the products to the public, ensuring the passing down of this heritage. (开设兼具制作、展销功能的传承基地)

Family Legacy

Ciren Duojie has passed his knowledge of Tibetan paper making to his two sons and his granddaughter, Puzhen (普珍):

  • Gecsang Danzen (格桑旦增), his eldest son, has continued the tradition and is now a recognized inheritor of the craft.

  • Puzhen (普珍), Duojie’s granddaughter, has contributed to the innovation of products such as notebooks and other cultural items based on traditional Tibetan paper.

The Nimu County government (尼木县政府) has provided land for growing the raw materials needed for paper production, ensuring a stable supply. This has created a positive cycle of intangible heritage protection, industry development, and cultural promotion. (非遗保护—产业发展—文化输出)