Introduction to Yangcheng Tissue

Yangcheng tissue is a traditional handmade paper passed down in the Xia Kong Village area of Yangcheng County, Shanxi Province. Made primarily from mulberry bark with lime and oil glue as supplementary materials, its production dates back to before the Qing Dynasty, reaching its peak during the Republic of China era. Characterized by its “soft smoothness and strong tensile strength,” the paper comes in sizes including 4-fold and 1.3-foot sheets, measured in units called “dao” (each dao contains 80 sheets).

Production involves seventy-two processes including material selection, soaking, and steaming, utilizing specialized tools like pounding hammers and skin-cutting knives. It was historically used for printing the Xinhua Daily, festive rituals, and mounting calligraphy and paintings. Following the 1950s, production shifted between cooperative and household-based models before gradually declining in the 1990s due to labor shortages. It is now listed as a municipal-level intangible cultural heritage. The Paper Culture Memory Museum systematically exhibits the craft process and explores industry-academia-research collaborations to advance skill preservation.