In order to provide education with warmth, enrich students' extracurricular life, alleviate psychological pressure, and enhance self-confidence and happiness through positive psychological experiences; as well as to promote students' understanding of papermaking, deeply appreciate the profound heritage of traditional Chinese culture, and strengthen their sense of identity and pride in national culture, the activity of the Artistry of Papermaking, Crafting with Skilled Hands of the 17th "Heart Power · Happy Night School" of "One-stop" Student Community was held as scheduled at the East 18 Flow Space at 7 p.m. on November 23, 2024. This event was led by Song Jiawen, a peer mentor from the Psychological Association and the Heart Power team, with the participation of 4 students from various schools across the university.
At the beginning of the event, Song Jiawen narrated the evolution of written communication media for everyone, from oral tradition to inscriptions on tortoise shells and animal bones, from inscriptions on bronze vessels to silk manuscripts and bamboo slips, until the emergence and improvement of papermaking, which gradually made paper the primary tool for carrying text. Following that, she provided a detailed introduction to the specific process of papermaking, related details, and how to use the corresponding tools.
After understanding the process, the students eagerly set to work. They tore used waste paper into pieces, soaked them in water, and then used a meat grinder to turn the paper into pulp. The next crucial step was to spread the pulp evenly onto a paper-making screen to allow it to naturally solidify into new sheets of paper. There were two methods for this step: one was called "dipping and shaking," where the screen was dipped into the pulp and shaken parallelly to evenly distribute the pulp on it. The other was called "pouring pulp," where the pulp was spooned onto the screen in portions. The students chose the method that suited them best, and soon, one by one, flat and uniform "new white paper" sheets, still dripping with water, were presented before everyone.
After the paper-making process is completed, it entered the embellishment stage. With colorful pigments, various dried flowers, perfume essences, and others, the students unleashed their creativity freely, crafting a diverse array of works. One splash was inked with a free and easy brushstroke, capturing vast landscapes with just a few strokes of varying thickness on the unoccupied spaces. The others meticulously selected and arranged flowers and leaves, decorating their papers with a secret garden amidst a riot of colors. Once the creation was finished, after allowing it to dry, it became a "new paper" infused with new life and value.
Then, the activity of the Artistry of Papermaking, Crafting with Skilled Hands of the "Heart Power · Happy Night School" had successfully come to a close. This activity not only continues the vitality of traditional culture but also allows students to create their own unique spaces. The students expressed that, on the one hand, they gained an understanding of traditional Chinese papermaking techniques and appreciated the wisdom of working people through hands-on practice. On the other hand, in the subsequent creation process, by perceiving and capturing beauty through various methods, they truly felt the charm of "white paper."
Translator: Ding Songbin
Date: Dec 10, 2024
