Hanji- Everything You Need to Know about Traditional Korean Paper

After spending years studying natural dyes, ink sticks, and other materials used in traditional Korean art, Lee Seung-chul has written a comprehensive book about hanji. Lee based the book on 20 years of extensive research. He is an art professor at Dongdeok Women’s University, and a senior researcher at Kansong Art Museum. Although he majored in oriental painting, Lee is a hanji expert and a paper researcher. He has devoted himself to the widespread revival of fine-quality hanji: he set up and ran his own hanji factory, and planted an orchard of indigo trees in order to produce naturally-dyed indigo paper. In 2009, he donated 8,000 hanji pieces to the Wonju History Museum to highlight hanji’s wonderful cultural qualities. The book explores the history of hanji, and covers the Three Kingdom’s period, the Goryeo dynasty, the Joseon dynasty, and current events. It also details production methods, outlines recommendations with regard to present-day applications, and includes more than 300 photos. In addition, it contains eleven hanji samples, nine of which were handmade by Jang Yong-hoon, a “Living Human Treasure” in Korea. e samples comprise the following types: naturallydyed indigo paper; naturally-dyed yellow paper; naturally-dyed red paper; hammered single-mould paper; single-mould paper; double-mould paper; three types of patterned hanji. Readers will get the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of hanji firsthand.

Contents
Ⅰ. What is paper?
The origins of paper
The spread of paper
Materials used for making paper
 
Ⅱ. The history of hanji
Hanji’s origins
The introduction of hanji
The Three Kingdoms period
Unifi cation of the Three Kingdoms
The Goryeo dynasty
The Joseon dynasty
The modern era
The present day
 
Ⅲ. Papermaking
Making hanji
Western papermaking
A comparison of hanji and western paper
Comparing Korean, Chinese and Japanese paper
 
Ⅳ. Hanji’s superiority
Mugujeongwang daedaranigyeong
(無垢淨光大陀羅尼經, The Pure Light Dharani Sutra)
Hanji’s superior physical attributes
 
Ⅴ. Hanji’s applications
Hanji used for producing art
Hwaseonji
Hanji and other crafts
 
Ⅵ. The future of hanji
Problems associated with present-day hanji
Hanji’s current status and future