Contextualizing Decorated Paper and Its Artistic Values During the Song Dynasty

Abstract

The decorated paper (“huajian”) gained prominence during the Song dynasty, which encompasses the fine paper as well as its delicate decorations. The artistic and material value of such paper did not attract a thorough study and scholarly attention. By historicizing Emperor Huizong’s Thousand Character Classic in Cursive Script, this research helps to better understand the paper-making industry in the Northern Song dynasty, the chronological development of paper, and the making process of this famous artwork. While the medium often attracts secondary attention and is often regarded as the background for the imagery, this paper reconsiders the value behind the artistic medium and its agency, which could further reveal historical information about society, technology, and artistic considerations.