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| 宣纸 [2025/08/14 15:52] – created xiaoer | 宣纸 [Unknown date] (current) – removed - external edit (Unknown date) 127.0.0.1 |
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| ====== Xuānzhǐ: 宣纸 - Xuan Paper, "Rice Paper" ====== | |
| ===== Quick Summary ===== | |
| * **Keywords:** Xuan paper, rice paper, Shuen paper, Chinese calligraphy paper, 宣纸, xuanzhi, Chinese brush painting, Four Treasures of the Study, Chinese art supplies, traditional Chinese paper, Anhui paper. | |
| * **Summary:** Discover **宣纸 (Xuānzhǐ)**, the legendary "Xuan paper" from China, often mistakenly called "rice paper." Revered for centuries, this special paper is one of the Four Treasures of the Study and the preferred canvas for traditional Chinese calligraphy and brush painting. Learn about its unique absorbent qualities, its cultural significance in Chinese art, and how its different types are used by artists to create breathtaking masterpieces. | |
| ===== Core Meaning ===== | |
| * **Pinyin (with tone marks):** Xuānzhǐ | |
| * **Part of Speech:** Noun | |
| * **HSK Level:** N/A | |
| * **Concise Definition:** A type of high-quality, handmade paper from ancient China, specifically Jing County in Anhui province, used primarily for calligraphy and brush painting. | |
| * **In a Nutshell:** **宣纸 (Xuānzhǐ)** is not just paper; it's an active participant in the art of Chinese calligraphy and painting. Think of it less like a simple canvas and more like a sensitive surface that collaborates with the artist's brush and ink. Its unique texture and absorbency allow ink to bleed and flow in the expressive, nuanced ways that define Eastern art. Famed for its ability to last for centuries, it has earned the nickname "the paper of a thousand years." | |
| ===== Character Breakdown ===== | |
| * **宣 (xuān):** This character's primary meaning is "to declare" or "to announce." However, in this context, it is geographical. It refers to the ancient administrative region of **Xuanzhou (宣州)** in what is now Anhui province, the historical center of this paper's production and trade. | |
| * **纸 (zhǐ):** This character means "paper." The radical on the left, **纟(sī)**, means "silk," hearkening back to a time when silk was a primary material for writing before the widespread invention of paper. | |
| * **Combined Meaning:** The two characters literally mean "Paper from Xuanzhou." The name is a protected designation of origin, much like "Champagne" can only come from the Champagne region of France. | |
| ===== Cultural Context and Significance ===== | |
| **宣纸 (Xuānzhǐ)** is a cornerstone of Chinese high culture and is intrinsically linked to the identity of the scholar-artist. Its importance is best understood through its role as one of the **"Four Treasures of the Study" (文房四宝 - Wénfáng Sìbǎo)**, the essential tools of the Chinese literati: the brush (笔 bǐ), ink (墨 mò), paper (纸 zhǐ), and inkstone (砚 yàn). In this context, "paper" almost always refers to **宣纸**. | |
| To an English speaker, the closest Western equivalent might be high-grade, cold-pressed watercolor paper or archival artist's canvas. However, the comparison is limited. A Western canvas is largely a passive surface that holds the paint. **宣纸**, by contrast, is an active medium. Its absorbency, texture, and the way it makes ink "dance" and "breathe" are fundamental to the aesthetic and technique of Chinese art. The "empty" or unpainted space on **宣纸** is just as important as the inked strokes, a concept that aligns with Daoist principles of presence and absence, or yin and yang. Owning and using fine **宣纸** was historically a mark of refinement and scholarly pursuit. | |
| ===== Practical Usage in Modern China ===== | |
| While its origins are ancient, **宣纸** is still widely used and revered in modern China. | |
| * **Artistic Creation:** This remains its primary use. Calligraphers and painters choose different types of **宣纸** based on their artistic needs. | |
| * **Raw Xuan (生宣 - shēng xuān):** Highly absorbent, perfect for freestyle calligraphy and expressive, impressionistic "xieyi" (写意) painting where capturing spirit and motion is key. Ink bleeds beautifully on this type. | |
| * **Sized/Processed Xuan (熟宣 - shú xuān):** Coated with a potassium alum mixture, making it much less absorbent. It is ideal for detailed, meticulous "gongbi" (工笔) painting and small-character calligraphy that requires sharp, precise lines. | |
| * **Semi-Sized Xuan (半熟宣 - bàn shú xuān):** A middle ground, with moderate | |