Research Of Bamboo Paper Culture In Jiajiang

Known as the hometown of painting and calligraphy in China, homemade paper industry in Jiajiang of Sichuan province is severed as the pillar industry with distinguishing features for its economy. There is no shadow of doubt that this industry not only played a crucial part role in the economy and culture of Jiajiang, but also frequently be researched when it comes to the study of paper-making culture among China and the whole world. Having been included in the list of the traditional craftsmanship of first range of national intangible culture heritage(code: 421VIII-71,the craftsmanship of homemade bamboo paper) in 2006, which proved that the craftsmanship was highly appreciated and fully affirmed by our country and academic community. Namely, the abundant culture connotation and the important value of research this craftsmanship suggests have been both justified. The research approach to it in the thesis will be divided into the following four different aspects.To begin with the historical perspective, the craftsmanship of homemade bamboo paper has a long history and it may, in academic community, date back to Tang Dynasty.Through its development in and after Song Dynasty, it reached the peak in Qing Dynasty. During the reign of emperor Kangxi in which Jiajiang’s bamboo paper was nominated as royal tribute and used as the Wenwei examination paper, which made it famous among our country at that time.In addition, the craftsmanship of homemade bamboo paper of Jiajiang will be specifically related from the perspective of technology. With hundreds of years’ development and transformation from Tang Dynasty, taking into account the manufacture method, the bamboo paper consists of the traditional homemade, the modern painting and calligraphy paper made by hand or by machine. Difference can be found within the processing of row material and the manufacturing of paper for the three respective kinds. It’s worth noting that the strong Sichuan color and style is so obvious on the naming of the procedures of paper-making related to the traditional homemade bamboo paper in Jiajiang. The craftsmanship gives birth to one of the most important branches, which is famous for Zhang Daqian, a well-known Chinese painting master with high reputation. The Daqian painting and calligraphy was developed by himpersonally from 1939 to 1940 in Jiajiang. This kind of paper for painting and calligraphy practice is quite popular with calligrapher and painter in that it is propitious to the creation and practice of calligraphy and painting for its advanced technology out of inheritance and innovation, improvement and breakthrough.As to the culture perspective, the homemade bamboo paper in Jiajiang is rich in meaning and connotation. Throughout the ages, lots of paper culture phenomenons involving paper made by ancient method have been born and observed here given that Jiajiang is famous as the hometown of Sichuan paper. These culture phenomenons can be traced among the local diversified activities, individual paper maker or the whole paper-making industry. Hence, the distinguishing local features of folk culture for bamboo paper have everything to do with the local manufacture of bamboo paper.Last but not the least, from the perspective of protection and inheritance, there is still lots of work to be done to protect this traditional craftsmanship though attention from society has been drawn since it was been listed in the national intangible culture heritage. It goes without saying that various measures and suggestions ought to be put into practice for the protection of it.