Echizen paper

Washi paper produced near Echizen City, Fukui Prefecture (formerly Okamoto Village, Echizen Province). An old legend remains about the origin of this paper, in which one of the deities enshrined at Otaki Shrine in Okamoto Village appeared as a beautiful maiden and taught the villagers how to make paper. The name "Echizen-made paper" can already be seen in the Shosoin documents from 774 (Hōki 5). During the Muromachi period, hosho paper was produced in five districts of Okamoto Village - Otaki, Iwamoto, Sadatomo, Oizu, and Shinzaike - and became famous. The production of Torinoko paper and various types of craft paper has also been renowned for both quality and quantity to this day, and is a proud tradition.

[Machida Masayuki]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

福井県越前市（越前国、旧岡本村）付近で産出される和紙。この紙の起源には古い伝説が残っており、岡本村の大滝神社の一祭神が美しい乙女となって現れ、村民に紙漉(かみす)きを教えたという。774年（宝亀5）の『正倉院文書』に、すでに越前産紙の名がみられる。室町時代に、岡本村のなかの大滝、岩本、定友、不老(おいず)、新在家の5地区で奉書紙が漉かれ、著名となった。また鳥の子紙や各種工芸紙の生産は、質量ともに現代に至るまで名声を博し、伝統を誇っている。

［町田誠之］

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