Washi, Japanese Paper

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.. .. .. .. Washi, Japanese Paper 　和紙



http://www.tesukiwashi.jp/p/yoto_daruma.htm

This store has a great collection of links to Washi Paper and the various products made from it.
http://www.tesukiwashi.jp/p/washiseihin.htm

.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. For example
　はがき Hagaki, postcards
便箋・封筒 fuuto, envelopes
ランプシェード Lampshades
　名刺 Meishi, Business Cards
色紙 shikishi, colored paper
人形・壁掛など Dolls and decorations for the wall
.. .. .. http://www.tesukiwashi.jp/image/echizen/echizen_ningyo.gif
.. .. .. http://www.tesukiwashi.jp/image/echizen/echizen_kabekake.jpg
座ぶとん（黒谷和紙） Zabuton, Seat cushions

Nr. 9 of these dolls is a Hime Daruma, Princess Daruma:
http://www.tesukiwashi.jp/image/ecchu/ecchu_kataezome.gif

Dolls for "Kaze no Bon" Festival
http://www.tesukiwashi.jp/image/ecchu/ecchu_kazenobon.jpg

This goese on and on...

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quoted from
.. .. .. .. .. .. .. Japan's Encounter With Paper
The Japanese people's sentiment that transcended the original use of paper


The oldest printed matter existing in the world are the "One Million Dharani Charms" of Japan. In the year 764, the Empress Shotoku, praying for peace throughout the nation, sanctioned the printing of a million paper prayers, each prayer to be enshrined in its own individual three-storied wooden pagoda with a height of 13.5 centimeters and a diameter of 10.5 centimeters at the base. Printed Buddhist prayers called Dharani were placed in a hole in the center and 100,000 each of these pagodas were allotted to ten great temples, including the Horyuji Temple of Nara, Yamato Province.

At a time when paper making techniques made a rapid advance, the Japanese people were not satisfied with simply paper on which words could be written and which could be preserved well. They demanded a special harmony and beauty, depending on the use and the taste of the user. Just for "irogami" (colored paper) and "tanzaku" (strip of fancy paper for the writing of poems) alone, many different kinds were made, ranging from the ornate to the simple, to match the poem's content and calligraphic style. The complex demands were fully met by the paper making artisans.

Washi was often used as a gift among the upper classes of society in ancient times and the Middle Ages. For instance, when members of the nobility visited each other, it was customary to take along white paper of high quality. This was presented with the thought that the person visited was a man of culture-so please use this for composing poems or copying a sutra." This refined custom continued until recent times.

Even on the battlefield, it was considered good taste for a warlord to carry thich Washi called "hikiawase" with him. The original meaning of "hikiawase" was the place for tightening body armor. It was usually located on the body armor's right side. Warriors found it convenient to put paper and writing equipment here and it was from this that the name of the paper originated. Besides for official communications, the paper was used for writing poems, miscellaneous notes and records.

Choths made from Washi


Eventually the uses of Washi spread beyond writing, painting and printing. Washi was the first paper in the world to be employed widely for daily necessities. Washi imparted many benefits and had a splendid practicability in the life of the Japanese people as a whole.

When well used Washi is torn into a ribbon-like form and twisted with the hands, this becomes what is known as "koyori." It is generally used as a string to bind sheets of paper. In addition, a large number of "koyori" can be combined in different shapes and lacquered for "koyori handiwork."

The many kinds of "koyori handiwork" such as bowl, plate, cigarette case, lunch box and "kori" (hamper with cover for containing clothing-made with consideration for ventilation) are lightweight and splendid craft work. It is a traditional industrial art born out of the attachment felt by people who did not want to waste even a fragment of Washi.


This is an amazing article on three pages, please look at the big pictures and read the original here:
http://www.jgc.co.jp/waza/b4_washi/washi01.htm

About the making of Washi
http://www.jgc.co.jp/waza/b4_washi/washi03.htm


Safekeep copy is here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DarumaArchives-002/message/55

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Another informative page about Washi Paper.

Washi is the Japanese word for the traditional papers made from the long inner fibres of three plants, wa meaning Japanese and shi meaning paper. As Japan rushes with the rest of the world into the 21st Century, and more modern technologies take over, machines produce similar-looking papers which have qualities very different from authentic washi. As of the fall of 1994, there remain roughly 350 families still engaged in the production of paper by hand.
History
Raw Materials
Methods of Production
Features of Washi
Uses for Washi

http://www.japanesepaperplace.com/about_jap_paper/about_washi.htm

Something for everyone...
Who uses these papers? The sky's the limit! But here are some whose work can greatly benefit:
Artists
Bookbinders
Conservators
Craftspersons
Graphic Designers
Interior Designers
Manufacturers
Painters & Drawers
Printmakers


Check here monthly for the revolving gallery of Japanese paper uses!
http://www.japanesepaperplace.com/about_jap_paper/gallery.htm

As time goes on, modern technology replaces much of the traditional process. Still there are those papermakers left who will not compromise.
According to the Japanese, "Things of excellence shall not die."

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The Gread Washi Paper Sculptor, Uchiumi Kiyoharu
Click on the numbers to see his dolls.
See the slide show with music:
http://www.itokawa.com/utiumi/slide/main.html
http://www.itokawa.com/utiumi/utiumi1.html

Uchiumi made a show of washi puppets relating to the life of Kuukai, Kooboo Daishi (Kukai, Kobo Daishi). This is a very impressive show, click on all the buttons on the left.



■内海清美の物語空間 　　和紙人形による空海の世界
The world of Kukai, made of Washi Paper
http://www.mikkyo21f.gr.jp/art_utsumi001.html

One example, Chapter 10
第十章　即身成仏
嵯峨天皇は南都六宗と北嶺（比叡山）の高僧、および空海の八人を宮中の清涼殿に召集、それぞれの宗旨の真髄を聴聞します。これは八宗論として伝えられています。 　その場での各宗の高僧は、すべて成仏の経路は三劫成仏［さんごうじょうぶつ］といって、長い年月の修行を果たした後にはじめて成仏できるという未来成仏を説きます。 　これに対し空海は一人「自心の源底を知るものは仏の心を知る。仏の心を知るものは衆生の心を知る。仏の生命を覚り、これと一体化して生きる肉体そのままで速やかに仏になることができる。それは仏の三密と人間の三業とが不二になる境地である」と真言宗の即身成仏を説き、一座の天皇と高僧たちの前で、手に印契を結び、口に真言を唱え、心を仏の三昧に住するという三密行を示し、自身金剛身（大日如来）となり即身成仏の境地に入ってみせ、体から黄金の光を放ちます。 　他宗の高僧たちはこの光景にすっかり畏敬し、天皇の空海への信頼は一層高まります。

http://www.mikkyo21f.gr.jp/art_utsumi001-10.html


There is a Museum with the Sculptures of Uchiumi san.
Genji Paper Sculpture Museum

This museum exhibits Japanese paper carvings and sculptures of Mr. Kiyoharu Uchiumi. He has reproduced some scenes from the Tales of Genji, which is the masterpiece written by Murasaki Shikibu in the Heian period.Mr. Uchiumi's aim is that visitors appreciate his works with all their five senses. Lighting and music complement and allow full expression of his works The entire exhibition hall is a big stage, and the spectators walk by and appreciate individual scenes on the stage.
http://www.archphoto.it/IMAGES/asia/hayakusa/mats.htm
http://www.kt.rim.or.jp/~mutsu/e-genji/3-2.html


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http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Darumasan-Japan/

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