Tiny sheets of paper carry profound history

Jian, slices of bamboo for writing on, were easy to carry around. After paper was invented, the term jianzhi (zhi means paper) came to refer to these finely made paper sheets on a smaller scale, meant for writing letters and poetry.

"Huajian paper embodies the beauty and depth of knowledge about Chinese culture and art," says Wu Hongliang, director of the Beijing Fine Art Academy.

"This unique stationary carries a galaxy of emotions. The patterns are like background music on paper, though they cannot be heard. They do not take attention away from the texts, but possess a lingering charm, reminding people today of the creative artistry and sincerity between the lines," Wu adds.

Xue Tao, a Tang Dynasty poet and musician, championed this graceful paper type. While she lived in Chengdu, Sichuan province, she developed a fashionable technique for dyeing paper with juice extracted from hibiscus flowers. It is believed that she fetched the water from a well in the Baihuatan Garden in Chengdu for crafting the red-hued paper.