Manufacturing Techniques and Sustainability Strategies of Xinjiang Mulberry-Bark Paper

Papermaking is recognized as one of the greatest technological inventions of ancient China, with the advent of paper significantly promoting the dissemination of human civilization. Following the opening of the Silk Road, Chinese papermaking technology gradually spread to the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region (hereafter Xinjiang), Central Asia, and eventually Europe. Traditional hand-made papermaking techniques preserved in contemporary Xinjiang demonstrate distinctive regional characteristics, representing a crucial transitional phase in the transmission of Chinese papermaking technology along the Silk Road. Based on field investigations and technical analyses conducted in three extant hand-made paper workshops in Xinjiang, this study systematically examines the production processes and material properties of Xinjiang mulberry bark paper. In addition, it explores actionable strategies for the sustainable development of this intangible cultural heritage.