Gasenshi (drawing paper)

Japanese: 画仙紙(画箋紙) - がせんし

A Japanese version of Chinese calligraphy paper. Originally, among the papers (collectively called karakami) imported from China during the Edo period, there was one called gabo paper (Yasenshi, Gasenshi, etc.). It is said to have been named after Xuanshi, a famous Chinese paper used for painting and calligraphy. Xuanshi has been spun since the beginning of the Tang dynasty and is made from green sandalwood. In contrast, there is Maobianshi, which is made from bamboo. This paper bleeds less than Gasenshi, has a smooth surface, and is used for fine writing. During the Edo period, the preference for Chinese calligraphy paper spread among literati, and from that time attempts were made in Japan to reproduce Chinese calligraphy paper, but it ended without any major developments.

Source: Heibonsha World Encyclopedia, 2nd Edition Information

Japanese:

中国の書道用紙を日本で模倣して，製紙したもの。本来，江戸時代に中国から輸入された紙(唐紙と総称した)の中に，画牋紙(雅仙紙･画箋紙など)の名の紙があった。これは中国の有名な紙で書画に用いる宣紙にちなむ名といわれる。宣紙は唐代の初めからすかれ，青檀（せいたん）を原料とした。なお，対照的な紙として竹材を原料とした毛辺紙がある。これは画仙紙に比べにじみが少なく，紙肌が滑らかで，細字用に用いられる。江戸時代に文人の間に，中国の書道用紙を好む趣味が広がったので，そのころから日本でも中国の書道用紙を再現する試みは行われたが，大きく発展することなしに終わっていた。

出典　株式会社平凡社世界大百科事典第２版について　情報

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