A Paper Trail: Exploring Hanji Paper
Introduction
What shielded ancient soldiers from arrows and provided monks a medium to record religious messages? Hanji (한지), or traditional hand-crafted Korean paper, consists of the inner bark of mulberry trees and involves an arduous, ancient process to create a material integral to Korean culture and life.
History
During the Goryeo period (918-1392), this durable paper surged in popularity with the advent of printmaking. Consequently, hanji was utilized for currency, religious texts, governmental records, and books. Hanji’s use grew so widespread that the government promoted mulberry tree planting and cultivation across the Korean peninsula.
Afterward, throughout the Joseon period, hanji became more incorporated into the daily lives of the Korean people, appearing in fans, pouches, and even artificial flowers. Craftsmen also experimented with different colors and textures, even creating a hanji resilient enough to be used as paper armor!
Creation Process
The strenuous hanji creation process begins with gathering healthy branches of mulberry trees. After the branches are stripped of their outer layers, the innermost white layer, called heukpi (흑피), is soaked in a plant ash mixture for a few hours before being rinsed of excess debris. The fibers are then placed on a flat stone surface, where they are beaten with wooden paddles for an hour. To help with the paper’s cohesion, hibiscus root mucus is applied onto the bark fibers and stirred with a long wooden stick or a puldaeji. Next, hanji sheets are formed by pouring this mixture onto a bamboo template, where water is washed over it several times. Depending on the hanji maker and their techniques, the method of sheet-forming determines the grain direction, smoothness, and quality of the paper. Finally, the singular hanji sheet is compressed between heavy stones and gradually dries in a heated room.
Significance
Since Korea’s rapid industrialization, hanji has dramatically decreased in use, popularity, and production, with only a handful of mills active in modern-day South Korea. Today, hanji is primarily used by skilled artisans to create goods such as lampshades, art pieces, dolls, baskets, and mats. However, hanji paper continues to be an integral piece of memorializing and understanding Korean literature, history, culture, and life.
