Tibetan Paper Making Skills

Tibetan Paper Making Skills (藏族造纸技艺) is a traditional craftsmanship of the Tibet Autonomous Region (西藏自治区) and is recognized as a National Intangible Cultural Heritage of China. This technique has been passed down through generations and is a remarkable example of Tibet’s cultural heritage. The process of creating Tibetan paper involves several intricate steps, including bark peeling, pounding, boiling, fermentation, washing, mashing, and papermaking.

In 2006, Tibetan Paper Making Skills was officially included in the first batch of the National Intangible Cultural Heritage list, with project number VIII-69.

Key Information

  • Heritage Name: Tibetan Paper Making Skills (藏族造纸技艺)

  • Approval Date: May 20, 2006 (2006年5月20日)

  • Heritage Level: National (国家级)

  • Heritage Number: VIII-69

  • Heritage Category: Traditional Craftsmanship (传统技艺)

  • Region: Tibet Autonomous Region (西藏自治区)

Historical Origins

The Journey of Paper Making to Tibet

The art of paper making in Tibet dates back more than 1,300 years to the time of Princess Wencheng (文成公主), who brought paper-making knowledge from Central China when she married the Tibetan king during the Tang Dynasty (唐朝). In the 8th century, driven by the need for scriptural translations, Tibetans began learning and adopting the paper-making techniques from surrounding regions. By using local materials, Tibetans produced a unique variety of paper, which became known as Tibetan paper.

During the Qianlong period (乾隆年间) of the Qing Dynasty (清朝), Zha Li (查礼), who once served as the governor of Hunan (湖南), praised Tibetan paper in his poem “The Tibetan Paper Poem” (藏纸诗). The poem highlights the quality of Tibetan paper, noting that it surpassed even the renowned Sichuan Paper (蜀纸) and Korean Paper (高丽纸).

With the Reform and Opening-up (改革开放) of China in the late 20th century, Tibet’s traditional crafts, including paper-making, saw renewed government support, especially during the 1990s. This period marked the revitalization and continued development of Tibetan paper-making traditions.

Craft Characteristics

Unique Features of Tibetan Paper

Tibetan paper is made from natural materials, primarily derived from a shrub called Ruexiang Wolf Poison (瑞香狼毒), which grows above 6,500 meters in the Himalayas (喜马拉雅山脉). The paper-making process is incredibly labor-intensive and results in paper with unique characteristics:

  1. Durability and Preservation: Tibetan paper has inherent properties that make it resistant to insect damage and decay. It is naturally toxic due to the Ruexiang Wolf Poison, which prevents insects and rodents from damaging it, allowing the paper to be preserved for centuries. Many Buddhist scriptures (佛教经文) written on this paper remain intact in Tibetan monasteries for hundreds of years.

  2. Light and Soft Texture: The paper is lightweight yet durable, with fine fibers that make it soft to the touch. Its high absorbency ensures that ink does not fade over time.

  3. Eye-friendly Quality: With its slightly yellowish hue and low brightness, Tibetan paper is easy on the eyes, making it ideal for long hours of reading or writing.

  4. Strong and Resilient: Tibetan paper is known for its tear resistance, flexibility, and compression resistance. It is lighter than traditional Xuan paper (宣纸) and easy to transport.

  5. Environmentally Sustainable: Tibetan paper is produced using eco-friendly techniques. The waste generated during production can be repurposed to create other handmade crafts, such as Shao silk (肖丝) and Reed silk (热丝), which are used for traditional Tibetan masks.

The Paper Making Process

Materials Used

The primary material for Tibetan paper is the Ruexiang Wolf Poison shrub bark, which grows in the Himalayas. The bark of this plant contains natural toxins, which give the paper its unique qualities. Originally, Tibet used hemp as a paper-making material, a practice that was passed down from Central China. However, due to resource constraints, the Tibetans adapted their paper-making method to use the abundant Ruexiang Wolf Poison shrub.

Process Steps

  1. Bark Stripping: The first step involves harvesting and stripping the bark from the Ruexiang Wolf Poison shrub.

  2. Drying: The bark is then sun-dried to remove moisture.

  3. Flattening: Using knives, the rough bark is flattened.

  4. Boiling: The bark is boiled to soften it.

  5. Pounding: The softened bark is pounded with a wooden mallet until it turns pale.

  6. Reboiling: After pounding, the bark is boiled again to extract more fibers.

  7. Starch Addition: A starch solution is added to help bind the fibers.

  8. Filtration: The pulp is filtered through a cloth to create a smooth, even texture.

  9. Drying: The wet pulp is dried in the sun to form paper sheets.

  10. Polishing: The dried paper is polished to adjust thickness, softness, and shine.

  11. Steaming: Finally, the paper is steamed with wheat flour paste to finish the process.

Inheritance and Protection

Value of Inheritance

The craft of Tibetan paper making is not only widespread in Tibet but has also reached neighboring countries such as India (印度), Nepal (尼泊尔), and Bhutan (不丹). With its rich history, exceptional craftsmanship, and the unique cultural identity it represents, Tibetan paper-making has become an integral part of Tibetan culture, making its preservation crucial.

Notable Figures in Inheritance

One of the prominent inheritors of this art is Tsering Dorje (次仁多杰), a Tibetan craftsman from Xue La Village (雪拉村) in Taro Township (塔荣镇), Nimu County (尼木县), Tibet Autonomous Region. In June 2009, Tsering Dorje was officially recognized as a representative inheritor of National Intangible Cultural Heritage for Tibetan paper-making.

Protection Measures

In 1993, Qiangba Zun Zhu (强巴遵珠) established the Lhasa Caiquan Welfare Special School (拉萨彩泉福利特殊学校), which later became the Caiquan Welfare Ethnic Handicraft Research Center (彩泉福利民族手工艺研发中心). In 1998, the center revived the production of traditional Dege Tibetan paper (德格手工藏纸).

In 2011, the center was designated as an Intangible Cultural Heritage Inheritance Base in the Tibet Autonomous Region. Later, in 2019, Lhasa Caiquan Welfare Ethnic Handicraft Ltd. (拉萨彩泉福利民族手工业有限公司) was recognized as the official protection unit for Tibetan Paper Making Skills. The protection efforts continued in 2023, with the company passing the evaluation for ongoing protection.

Social Impact

Important Exhibitions

Tibetan paper-making has been showcased in numerous high-profile cultural exhibitions. For example, on December 30, 2014, the Cultural Ministry of China (文化部) and the National Library of China (国家图书馆) jointly hosted an exhibition titled “Our Characters—The Inheritance of Writing in Intangible Cultural Heritage” at the National Classics Museum (国家典籍博物馆). During this exhibition, Tibetan paper-making was featured, highlighting its significant contribution to cultural preservation.