Culture of Yuzen Washi
We make Yuzen Japanese paper by using traditional Yuzen dyeing techniques. This Yuzen Japanese paper is the material of “Chiyogami,” also widely known as "Origami".
Yuzen dyeing -
The name of Yuzen comes from Miyazaki Yuzenzai, who was painting on fans in Kyoto during the Edo period. In the Genroku era of the period, Yuzen dyeing was invented by applying the style of the fan paintings drawn by Yuzen to the pattern of Kosode(a kind of kimono).
It was characterized by a variety of colors and curved, simplified patterns symblizing plants, animals and landscapes, called "Yuzen patterns." In order to dye a pictorial pattern, a technique to place a thin glue on the outline of the pattern was invented. This technique prevented bleed between colors and came to be called “Yuzen dyeing”. Among the technique, one is called “Tegaki Yuzen,” where pieces are dyed one by one with careful hand work of the artisans. We, Maruyama Senko, produces Yuzen Japanese paper using this Tegaki Yuzen technique, accomplished with stencils also unique to this technique.
Chiyogami -
Chiyogami is Washi (Japanese paper) with a pattern printed with hand using stencils. It was originally used for wrapping gifts, and today, it is also used for paper crafts such as making picture dolls or covering paperbacks, and origami, folding paper into three-dimensional objects, a traditional Japanese plaything.
