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| Washi - Japanese traditional handmade paper |
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Papermaking technique was introduced to Japan about in 610 and it was more than 500 years earlier than to Europe.
In Nara Era (710-794) papermaking has started also in Japan but mokkan (wooden tags) were used more than paper, because paper was still valuable and expensive for everyday use.
The Hyakumanto Darani (=The One Million Pagodas and Dharani Prayers) is known as the oldest printing in the world.
This printing was made from woodblock technique and Darani (Buddhist incantation) was printed to paper.
Empress Shotoku hoped peace of Japan in 770 after a revolt and the each of printing was put to one million miniature wooden pagodas.
This printing is about 700 years earlier than Letterpress printing of Johannes Gensfleisch zum Gutenberg (1447).
In Heian Era (794- ca.1185) classic work of Japanese literature like Genji Monogatari (The Tale of Genji) and Makurano Soshi (The Pillow Book) were born and a lot of paper produced and culture of Heian Era thrived/flourished. Then also samurais (warriors) began to use papers and solid, strong and practical use papers were demanded in Kamakura Era (1185-1333).
In Edo Era (1603-1867) the demand of paper has increased and the producing of washi began in various parts of Japan. But large quantities of Western paper have been introduced to Japan and washi -manufacturing industry had to modernize.
Western paper has got much share of the market because the producing of washi takes time and expensive.
Washi manufacturing industry was suffering from a lack of successors, population of producing areas after the World War II.
Washi is strong, durable and beautiful paper although it is quite thin, because the fibers of washi are longer than normal Western paper.
For these reasons washi is now well-known and popular also in overseas.
Japanese classical and traditional houses are made of wood, grass, soil and washi and they are so suitable for Japanese humid and hot summer. Also shoji (paper sliding door), fusuma (sliding door), sensu (folding fan), uchiwa (round fan), origami (folding paper art), wagasa (Japanese paper umbrella) were born from washi in the long history of Japan and the bills of the Bank of Japan are still made of the raw materials of washi.
Washi is made of pulps of kozo (Broussonetia kazinoki × B. papyrifera), mitsumata (Edgeworthia chrysantha), or gampi (Diplomorpha sikokiana).
Now washi is produced various places of Japan and Echizen-washi (Fukui Prefecture, Chubu region), Mino-gami (Gifu Prefecture, Chubu region) and Tosa-washi (Kochi Prefecture, Shikoku region) are the three famous washi brands and producing area.
We have Hayashi Kogei's washi products, which are made from Mino-gami.
For more information, click here! (in English)
Mino-gami
About Japanese papermaking
We have beautiful paperlamps and washi-papers. Click here!
Stylish floor lamps
Warm table lamps
Beautiful washi-papers
Unique washi-jewelry |
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