Handmade Xuan Paper – Untreated, Semi-treated, or Treated
This handmade Xuan paper is designed for calligraphy, ink painting, washes, and brush drawing.
Made from plant fibers derived from bamboo pulp, it reacts directly to the amount of water, ink load, and brush pressure. Depending on its finish, the ink can spread quickly into the fibers, remain more stable on the surface, or find a balance between the two.
This paper allows you to choose a support based on the desired level of control: expressive diffusion, more controlled lines, or an intermediate response for learning to adjust your stroke.
Information
Three finishes are available to adapt the paper to your practice.
Untreated Xuan: very absorbent. The ink immediately penetrates the fiber, with vivid diffusion and more open edges. Suitable for expressive strokes, free washes, and diffusion effects.
Semi-treated Xuan: moderate absorption. It offers a balance between diffusion and precision, useful for learning, regular exercises, and strokes that require both flexibility and legibility.
Treated Xuan: low absorption. The ink stays more on the surface, allowing for a sharper line, more direct control, and more controlled edges.
Features
Type: Handmade Xuan paper
Material: Plant fibers from bamboo pulp
Available finishes: Untreated Xuan, Semi-treated Xuan, Treated Xuan
Size: 34 × 46 cm
Quantity: Approximately 100 sheets
Usage: Calligraphy, ink painting, washes, brush drawing, stroke exercises
Choosing your Xuan paper
For beginners or regular practice, semi-treated Xuan is often the easiest to get used to: it allows the ink to flow into the fiber without losing line legibility too quickly.
Untreated Xuan is more suitable for creators who seek freer diffusion, more open edges, and a very sensitive response to water.
Treated Xuan will be more suitable for crisp lines, precise strokes, and gestures that require more restraint.
For a complete ink practice, this paper can be paired with
solid ink sticks,
an
inkstone
and a
calligraphy brush set.
🤍 Ikane workshop tip
Start with semi-treated Xuan to observe the ink's reaction without losing control of the stroke too quickly. Then move to untreated Xuan to explore diffusion, or to treated Xuan for a sharper, more stable line.
