Key Facts
- Craft
- Dongba paper, handmade from Wikstroemia shrub bark
- Location
- Lijiang, Yunnan province, China
- Traditional use
- Recording sacred scriptures of the Naxi people
- Modern products
- Notebooks, postcards, paper lamps
- Price of best-selling notebook
- More than 180 yuan ($27)
- Workshop owner
- Zhang Jian, with nearly 23 years of experience
Background
In Lijiang, a city in southwestern Yunnan province, a thousand-year-old craft is gaining new life. Dongba paper, traditionally used by Naxi priests to record sacred scriptures, is now finding its way into the luggage of travelers from around the world.
The paper is made from the bark of the Wikstroemia shrub, which grows at elevations above 2,000 meters. The bark is soaked, softened, pounded into pulp, spread onto bamboo screens, and sun-dried—a process repeated dozens of times. Unlike industrial paper, Dongba paper retains visible plant fibers, giving each sheet a unique texture and character.
For centuries, Dongba paper was used to record religious texts in a pictographic writing system central to Naxi cultural heritage. Its natural resistance to insects and aging has helped preserve these texts for generations.
Current Situation
Today, a growing number of domestic and international visitors are leaving the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Old Town of Lijiang with Dongba paper products. Popular items include notebooks for travel memories, postcards inscribed with ancient pictographs, and handmade paper lamps.
Zhang Jian, a product designer who runs a Dongba paper workshop in the old town, has spent nearly 23 years modernizing the craft. He noted that while foreign tourists were once occasional, they now visit daily. Han Yuchen, who oversees sales and promotion, said many visitors are surprised to learn that the delicate-looking paper can last for hundreds of years.
Postcards are often the first purchase for overseas visitors, followed by notebooks and paper lamps. The postcards feature images of Lijiang's scenery alongside Dongba characters and can be personalized with handwritten blessings. The paper's natural texture adds warmth that mass-produced cards cannot replicate.
| Product | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Postcards | Images of Lijiang scenery, Dongba characters, personalized blessings | Not specified |
| Notebooks | A5-sized, raw edges, leather cover | More than 180 yuan ($27) |
| Paper lamps | Single sheet folded into lampshade, soft glow, unique patterns | Not specified |
Impacts
The craft's durability has become part of its modern appeal. Dongba paper lamps, made by folding a single sheet into a lampshade, emit a soft glow that highlights the raw plant fibers. Each lamp has its own pattern, shaped by the plant material itself.
Notebooks are another favorite. One best-selling journal, roughly A5-sized with raw edges and a leather cover, sells for more than 180 yuan ($27). Though pricier than standard notebooks, they serve as a tactile archive for personal memories. Many visitors turn them into travel journals, pasting train tickets, flight stubs, entrance tickets, and photographs inside.
The growing interest in Dongba paper is helping preserve a centuries-old tradition while providing economic opportunities for local artisans. Social media posts by visitors, showing the paper's fibrous texture and enigmatic characters, are introducing the craft to a wider audience.
Future Outlook
Scenario analysis: The possibilities below are not certain predictions.
If the current trend continues, Dongba paper could become an even more prominent symbol of Lijiang's cultural heritage, attracting more tourists and supporting local workshops. The craft's unique qualities may also inspire new product lines beyond notebooks, postcards, and lamps.
However, the traditional production process is labor-intensive and relies on natural materials, which could limit scalability. If demand grows significantly, there may be pressure to balance authenticity with commercial production.
The future of Dongba paper may depend on how well artisans can maintain its traditional character while adapting to modern tastes. If successful, it could serve as a model for other traditional crafts seeking global recognition.
Source: chinadaily.com.cn
