Publication of 『Our Paper, Hanji -Analysis-』

by National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage

- Including Research Outcomes and Specimens from Scientific Tests and Analysis

on 48 Kinds of Hanji by Different Paper-making Techniques -

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The National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage (NRICH, Director General Kim Yeonsoo) under the Cultural Heritage Administration (CHA) of Korea published a report, ‘Our Paper, Hanji -Analysis-’ including the research outcomes with specimens by conducting the scientific test and analysis on 48 kinds of Korean paper, Hanji which was manufactured with different raw materials and paper-making techniques.

Hanji is the Suchoji which is manufactured by our own Korean technique, and it has been evaluated as the excellent paper with good stability and preservability in the world. The NRICH has been scientifically demonstrating its originality and superiority since 2017 and conducting the research on the quality standard of Hanji as the repair and restoration paper for cultural heritage which can be stably used in the restoration workplaces of cultural heritage in overseas countries as well as in Korea.

* Suchoji: Hand-made paper with a sheet-formation screen

This publication is the 2nd Hanji specimen book as one of research achievements in the quality standard of Hanji for the repair and restoration for cultural heritage, following ‘Our Paper, Hanji -Process Research-’ which was published in 2020. In this publication 48 kinds of Hanji specimens manufactured by giving variety to fiber of Dak (paper mulberry), lye cooking materials, mucilage of hibiscus roots and Choji (sheet-formation) techniques are included. Furthermore, each result of the analysis on characteristics such as the tensile strength which has influences on stability and preservability of Hanji as well as fundamental physical properties such as the color and homogeneity can be identified.

* Fibers of Dak (paper mulberry): Fiber formed between woody parts and bark of Dak tree as main material of Hanji

* Lye cooking material: Material which is added when boiling fiber of Dak such as lye to remove impurities

* Mucilage: Material which is extracted from hibiscus roots and added to help spread of fiber of Dak and to prevent sediment

* Choji technique: Sheet-formation technique of Hanji by using a Hanjibal (sheet-formation screen) such as Huilimttuigi and Gadumttuigi

* Tensile strength: Resistance of paper before breaking when a certain width of paper is pulled in the opposite direction

From the research outcomes by the NRICH under CHA, it was turned out that Hanji made with domestic Dak as main material is generally stronger than Hanji made with imported Dak. In addition, the Hanji made by Huilimttuigi passing water flow through various direction in a traditional way showed less difference of directional strength, compared to the Hanji made by Gadumttuigi passing water flow through a certain direction in an improved way. It can be identified that traditional Hanji has superiority in strength and dimensional stability.

* Gadumttuigi: Paper-making technique using a mould to trap fiber with a sheet-formation screen

* Huilimttuigi: Paper-making technique using a sheet-formation screen without a mould

* Dimensional stability: Physical property to maintain its original dimensions and shapes against environmental changes by temperature and humidity

On the other hand, the Gadumttuigi technique using sodium carbonate and sodium hydroxide as the lye cooking material and PAM (polyacrylamide) as the mucilage showed more improved ‘homogeneity’ signifying same properties in compositions and characteristics and ‘whiteness’ signifying the degree of whiteness on an object than the traditional technique.

* PAM(polyacrylamide): Synthetic polymer substance with viscosity

The research outcomes were presented through the academic symposium of research on traditional materials, ‘Values and Future of Traditional Materials’ in September of 2021, and those were utilized to prepare the quality standard (plan) of Hanji suitable for the repair and restoration of cultural heritage. Also, the NRICH is taking steps to register 4 kinds of Horizontal Standard, 5 kinds of Procedure Standard and 2 kinds of Product Standard as Korean Industrial Standards (KS) for Hanji newly suggested focusing on defining terms and scope of Hanji.

This publication is open to the public and available to everyone from the homepage of NRICH research publications (http://portal.nrich.go.kr) and the homepage of CHA (www.cha.go.kr).

 The National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage under the Cultural Heritage Administration of Korea continues contributing to the restoration for original forms of cultural heritage and its value improvement by providing scientific information of Hanji. And through the comparison and analysis on paper-making techniques with Seonji of China and Hwaji of Japan, it is planned to present the its own originality and tradition of Hanji scientifically.

Division: The National Research Institute of Cultural Heritage,

Restoration Technology Division 

Contact person:  Park Jongseo (042­-860-9341), Jeong Seonhwa (042-860-9344)