Tibetan paper

Tibetan paper (Standard Tibetan: shog^[1]) is a wildcrafted handmade Central Tibetan paper made from the root of Stellera chamaejasme (rejag, re lcag pa). Introduced in the 7th century, Tibetan paper is pest-repellent, due to Stellera's poisonous compounds.

Papermaking was introduced to Tibet from Tang China. The earliest recorded mention of Tibetan paper was a 648 CE request from the founder of the Tibetan Empire, Songtsen Gampo, to Taizong of Tang for paper and writing materials, recorded in the Old Book of Tang. Paper may have been introduced to the region earlier by the Princess Wencheng, who married Songtsen Gampo in 641 CE.^[2][3][4] Wooden slips were banned by imperial Tibetan edict in 744 in favor of paper.^[1]

In early Tibetan papermaking, lower-altitude Kham and Amdo first produced paper made from the bark of Daphne, Edgeworthia, or Wikstroemia shrubs, much like Nepali Lokta paper. The unique Tibetan paper came about as papermakers in higher-altitude Ü-Tsang and Ngari relied on the pest plant Stellera chamaejasme for locally-available paper fibers.^[1][2]

Archaeological caches of Tibetan paper include the Dunhuang manuscripts. Early Tibetan paper was used in accordion book codices, printed with woodblocks.^[5]

Tibetan paper uses the bast fiber of the root and stem of Stellera, sometimes mixed with Daphne or Edgeworthia bark; the plant's epidermis is stripped, then the bast stripped further away. The fibers are boiled with barley, wood ash, and other additives. After washing, the fibers are pulped and made into a slurry before screening with a floating deckle and drying.^[1][5]

The paper could then be layered together with wheatpaste, sized and burnished with a dzi bead for smoothness and strength. Historically, yak milk was used with wheatpaste.^[4][5]

The natural toxins in Stellara make the final paper pest-resistant. Workers who are exposed to the toxins in Stellera during processing can experience headaches, rashes, hives and skin peeling.^[1][3]

Thingshog (transl. blue-black paper) is a specialty Tibetan paper, prized for gifts and monastic use. The paper is produced by sizing Daphne paper with a combination of yak hide glue, brains, soot or lamp-black, and pine resin. Layers of paper are tacked together and laminated with wheatpaste, then sometimes burnished with a dzi bead, or dyed with indigo as desired. Calligraphy on thingshog was often painted in gold leaf by Lhasa Newar. Vermillion was used for bordering.^[1][5]

Tibetan papermaking, particularly with the unique fiber from Stellera, has been revived as a folk craft in Nyêmo County.^[1][3]

• Buddhist texts
• Khoi paper
• Mulberry paper
• Kashmiri paper