Xuan paper Xuan paper Xuan paper ("xuanzhi" ), or Shuen paper or rice paper, is a kind of paper originating in ancient China used for writing and painting. Xuan paper is renowned for being soft and fine textured, suitable for conveying the artistic expression of both Chinese calligraphy and painting. Xuan paper was first mentioned in ancient Chinese books "Notes of Past Famous Paintings" and "New Book of Tang". It was originally produced in the Tang dynasty in Jing County, which was under the jurisdiction of Xuan Prefecture (Xuanzhou), hence the name Xuan paper. During the Tang dynasty, the paper was often
Wen Xuan criticized throughout Chinese history for a number of odd or illogical choices. A large number of manuscripts and fragments of the "Wen Xuan" have survived to modern times. Many were discovered among the Dunhuang manuscripts and are held in various museums around the world, particularly at the British Library and Bibliothèque Nationale de France, as well as in Japan, where the "Wen Xuan" was well known from at least the 7th century. One Japanese manuscript, held in the Eisei Bunko Museum, is a rare fragment of a "Wen Xuan" commentary that may predate Li Shan's authoritative commentary from the mid-6th