Also
written 画箋紙 or abbreviated to gasen, written 画箋, 画牋, or 雅宣. A paper
of Chinese origin, xuanzhi (Jp: senshi 宣紙) made from the fibers of
the spindle tree, mulberry, bamboo and straw. Gasenshi is used for
calligraphy and painting. It has a white color and is very absorbent, causing
ink to spread rapidly. Although produced in three sizes, gasenshi is most commonly used in its smallest format kogasenshi 小画仙紙, which
measures 135 x 66cm. When extract of hibiscus (Hibiscus manihot; Jp: tororo-aoi 黄蜀葵) is applied, the paper acquires a glossy surface which does not allow
ink to spread, and is called shasuisen 煮すい箋. Thick gasenshi is known as seiroppiki 青六疋, and two joined layers nisoushi 二層紙. Fine textured, high quality gasenshi is called gyokubansen 玉版宣, also written 玉版箋 or 玉版牋. A version of gasenshi produced in Japan
is called wagasen 和画仙. |