This government-owned "Red Star" brand, Single ply raw xuan(Sheng xuan) paper is the best known brand name of brush painting paper in China.
The handmade Red Star Xuan Paper in Jing Country Anhui, or Rice paper as it is known to the west, is not made from rice straw or bamboo pulp. Rather it's from the bark fiber of a special tree called Qintan or Than trees(Pteroceltis Tatarinowii Maxim). This tree's bark fiber can be peeled and grow back again and again. Because of these special fiber, top quality xuan paper can last for hundreds of years.
Cut sheet size 13 - 3/4" x 18"(35x46cm) *Sold in bundle of 12.
The Red Star paper belongs to the Clean-Bark or Fine-Bark category which contains more than 60% Qintan fibers. When light ink is applied on it, the ink would get rich tones, kept fresh but not turning gray; when watercolors are applied, it would show mellowness but not stiff; smear smoothly, with good absorbent capability. In cotton white and firm texture, it is good for both calligraphy and painting, perfect for painting flower and birds, figures, animals and landscape painting. Red Star Xuan is very sensitive with superb absorbency. Strong Qintan fiber makes it very strong during repeated washing or wet mounting. I would strongly recommend it to experienced Chinese painting artist and advanced sumi-e students to try and see what's authentic Chinese Xuan paper.
Manufacture: Anhui Jing County Xuan Paper Mill (subordinate of China Xuan Paper Group Corporation)
Here is a YouTube video we recorded in Nov 2014 in the Red Star Xuan head quarter in An Hui province, China.
