A cultural paper trail

According to Tang Shukun, director of the Handmade Paper Institute at the University of Science and Technology of China in Hefei, capital of Anhui, calligraphy and ink paintings, especially freehand brushwork created on Xuan paper, have their unique appeal. As early as the Tang Dynasty, Xuan paper was listed as a tribute to the imperial court.

Tang mentions that as Chinese calligraphy and paintings developed, so did Xuan paper.

Jingxian became an important place for papermaking during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), according to Huang.

Traditionally, folk customs related to Xuan paper were common in Jingxian. For example, every year on the birthday and the date of death of Cai Lun, an official of the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220) who is said to have invented paper, all the workshops in the paper industry pay tribute to Cai at a temple dedicated to him in the county.

Every year, when the workshops start work after Chinese New Year, people hold a ceremony to worship Cai as well, and gather for a meal, in the hope of a prosperous year and a thriving business. Following this tradition, alongside the feast people nowadays also set off fireworks.