Papermaking is one of the four great inventions of ancient China, along with printing, gunpowder and the compass. It is also the crystallization of (wise) of ancient Chinese people. Among various types of handmade paper in China, Xuan paper is famous for its close links to traditional calligraphy and ink paintings.
The term Xuan paper first appeared in On Famous Paintings through the Ages, a book written by Zhang Yanyuan in Tang Dynasty (618-907), he described Xuan paper as ideal carrier for calligraphy and painting. Handmade Xuan paper from Jingxian county, East China's Anhui province, (list) as a present to the imperial court for its supreme quality during the period.
The traditional craft of making Xuan paper is extremely (demand). Sandalwood (檀香树) bark, a plant native southern China, goes through 108 (procedure) together with rice straw over the course of three years before it can transform into a batch of fine Xuan paper. The entire procedure is so complex that even the most skilled craftsman can only master limited number of steps.
The flow of ink, both guided and resisted by water, determines the output of Chinese art, and Xuan paper outshines others with its excellent ability (give) full play to ink.
Xuan paper (accompany) the passionate brushstrokes of the Chinese literati (文人) for thousands of years. Unlike other forms of paper, it is very resistant to the damage brought by time. It is this durability has made the preservation of many valuable works from ancient China possible.
