Dongba paper in Lijiang: A messenger of Naxi civilization

In the heart of the Old Town of Lijiang, at the Shoudao Lijiang Folk Handicraft Art Museum’s Dongba Paper Heritage Center, visitors can witness the ancient art of Dongba papermaking, demonstrated daily by He Xiuchang, an inheritor of this intangible cultural heritage.

He Xiuchang, a proud Naxi craftsman, began learning this traditional skill at the age of 8. Now, at 41, he has dedicated more than three decades to preserving and passing down this craft. Dating back over a thousand years to the Tang Dynasty, the Naxi ancestors, through their ingenuity and connection with the highland environment, developed a unique papermaking technique using plants native to the plateau. The process involves dozens of meticulous steps to create a single sheet of Dongba paper.

Dongba paper is not only a functional medium for writing and painting, but also a versatile material for creating: photo albums, bookmarks, foldable fans, lampshades and more.
These products are a common sight in Lijiang, where Dongba paper is deeply integrated into modern creative designs. Beyond its practical applications, Dongba paper itself is an artistic masterpiece, embodying the essence of Naxi culture.

From its creation, Dongba paper has been a living representation of the Naxi people’s millennia-old cultural heritage. It served as a medium for recording religious scriptures, myths, and stories in the Dongba pictographic script, ensuring the preservation of Naxi traditions.

Today, Dongba paper continues to thrive in Lijiang, not just as a craft but as an eloquent narrative of the Naxi civilization. Whether as a traditional canvas or a modern art material, Dongba paper carries the soul of the Naxi people, connecting the past to the present in every delicate fiber.
Discover Dongba paper, where craftsmanship meets culture, and tradition transcends time.

Source: Lijiang Publish; Trans-editing by Mo Yingyi