gasenshi　画仙紙

KEY WORD :　art history / paintings

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.

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(C)2001 Japanese Architecture and Art Net Users System.　No reproduction or republication without written permission. 掲載のテキスト・写真・イラストなど、全てのコンテンツの無断複製・転載を禁じます。