CHINA: THE ANCIENT ART OF BAMBOO PAPER-MAKING IS DECLINING IN CHINA DUE TO COMPETION FROM MORE MODERN METHODS OF PRODUCTION

Record ID: 721029

  • Title: CHINA: THE ANCIENT ART OF BAMBOO PAPER-MAKING IS DECLINING IN CHINA DUE TO COMPETION FROM MORE MODERN METHODS OF PRODUCTION
  • Date: 27th November 2004
  • Summary: (L!1) JIAJIANG COUNTY, SICHUAN PROVINCE, CHINA (RECENT) (REUTERS - ACCESS ALL) VARIOUS: FARMER CUTTING AND WALKING AWAY WITH BAMBOO (4 SHOTS) ROOF COVERED BY BAMBOO LV/SCU: MEN REMOVING PAPER FROM WALL (2 SHOTS) MAN COUNTING PAPER SHEETS (2 SHOTS) SCU: (SOUNDBITE) (Sichuanese) YANG ZAIYANG, VILLAGER, SAYING: "Using wood to make paper, you have to wait for them to grow for
  • Embargoed: 12th December 2004 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: JIAJIANG, SICHUAN PROVINCE, CHINA
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Business,Industry,Quirky,Light / Amusing / Unusual / Quirky
  • Reuters ID: LVAAV7WYNSOODR6YZJJOZ7SWNIS0
  • Story Text: A fast disappearing tradition in China, the ancient art of bamboo paper-making is struggling to compete against more modern methods of production.
    Here in this small village in Sichuan province, the traditional way of making paper has survived unchanged for centuries.
    Together with printing, gunpowder and the compass, papermaking is one of the four great inventions of ancient China.
    But the modern world is encroaching - and putting pressure on these artisans who painstakingly craft paper from bamboo.
    These workers - their methods little changed since the Ming dynasty - are facing increased competition from paper-making conglomerates.
    But they believe that their art can survive - and in the long run, help preserve the environment.
    "Using wood to make paper, you have to wait for them to grow for years until you can cut them down again. But with bamboo, we can cut them at least once a year. We can choose good bamboo to ensure we make good quality paper," said Yang Zaiyang, a villager.
    Converting bamboo into paper is similar to making paper out of wood. The bamboo is crushed then soaked in lime water for months and becomes pulp after the softening-up process.
    Skilled workers repeat the process thousands of times everyday to produce thin layers - ultimately producing snow white sheets of resilient paper which are then sold nationwide.
    Ninety-five-percent of the villager's income used to be derived from paper making - but now, increasing numbers of villagers are moving away to work in China's booming cities.
    There are fears that one day, arts like this will die out.
    But so far, the traditional way of doing things has survived and family workshops continue to consume thousand of tonnes of bamboo each year.
    "Because we have bamboo mountains with large bamboo forests, we can solve our need for resources. As this is a hand-made product, we don't need as many materials as machine-produced paper,"
    said Yang Zaiyang.
    Bamboo paper is a favoured tool of artists due to its softness and absorbency - perfect for the Chinese art of ink brush painting.
    "Painters can achieve the desired effect by using this kind of paper. The ink has "life" in this paper. It doesn't just become a spot, but with water it disperses on the water," said painter Yi Mingqin.
    While cheaper paper products are now flooding the Chinese markets, artists like Yi have no time for new inventions. For them, the old way of doing things is the best.
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