Thousand-year ancient papermaking makes a big industry

　　A small mountain village called Shiqiao deep in Dashan, Nangao Township, Danzhai County, Guizhou Province, still retains a papermaking technique that has been handed down from ancient times using bark and other raw materials. Pieces of seemingly rough "ancient paper" entered the National Library and the National Museum, and traveled all the way across the ocean. They were exported to the United States, France, Australia and other countries. The ancient papermaking that was on the verge of loss was reborn here. Vigorous.

　　"These blank papers are agreed upon by foreign customers, and I want to deliver them in the county." Luo Youjun, a 38-year-old villager in Shiqiao Village, told reporters that his batch of goods has been made for about 15 days, and net income can be obtained after removing the cost 3000 yuan. According to local people, Shiqiao Village has a population of more than 1,100 in 250 households, 95% of whom are Miao compatriots. Almost everyone, young and old, can make paper with the old method.

　　Papermaking is one of the four great inventions in ancient China. It is a major contribution of the Chinese nation to human civilization. Papermaking with bark as raw material has a long history.

　　Experts from the museum found that the ancient paper-making process of Shiqiao is basically the same as the diagram recorded in Song Yingxing's "Tiangong Kaiwu" in the Ming Dynasty. It is believed to be the paper-making process from the Han Dynasty to the Tang Dynasty. A hundred years of history.

　　After more than 10 original manual processes, the stone bridge paper has excellent paper quality, has the characteristics of flexibility, good gloss, and strong water absorption. It has important historical research, cultural and economic value. Historically, white paper was mainly used by scholars in Danzhai County, and sales were not worrying. However, hand-made white paper encountered machine paper, a product of paper-making technological innovation. In the face of price and quality, white paper failed.

　　"In the 1990s, there were almost no households in the village who made paper, and the ancient papermaking process was on the verge of being lost." Speaking of the history of more than 10 years of poor hand-made papermaking in Shiqiao, Wang Xingwu, the 19th generation inheritor of Shiqiao's ancient papermaking method, was deeply moved.

　　Seeing that this ancient folk technique was going to be lost, Wang Xingwu decided to break the tradition and produce colored handmade paper with wild flowers of various colors. In 2000, his colored paper was taken by a Hong Kong businessman who signed an order for 180,000 yuan at a price of 3 yuan a piece.

　　"From a few cents to a few yuan, it's a world of difference." Wang Xingwu said. Since then, Shiqiao handmade colored paper has gradually gained a market, and Shiqiao handmade white paper is once again known to the world. . In 2006, the ancient papermaking skills of Danzhai Stone Bridge were included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage lists. Shiqiao Village also established a papermaking professional cooperative in accordance with the principle of "voluntary participation and private management" to achieve large-scale operations.

　　With the continuous increase in popularity, Shiqiao Village has received more orders. Now there are nine series of more than 100 papers produced, and all of them are "order-based" production, and they have repaired the ancient books of the National Library and the National Museum. Develop special paper, and the products are also exported to the United States, France, Australia and other countries.

　　"In 2011, the output value of my company alone is expected to exceed 5 million yuan." Wang Xingwu said that he is increasingly optimistic about the prospects of ancient papermaking.