The fame of the Korean paper, ink and writing brush dates back to the period of the Koryo dynasty (918-1392).
In 1145 an ordinance was issued to plant mulberry and paper mulberry across the country in order to obtain raw materials for papermaking.
As a result, a variety of paper including that made from mulberry fibre began to be mass-produced.
Papermaking that had evolved since the Koguryo dynasty (277 BC-AD 668) further thrived in the Koryo period. Foreigners set much store by Koryo paper, saying that it is “white, silky-tough and well-writable.”
It is said Koryo paper was so famous that a foreigner in a neighbouring country had kept a sheet of Koryo paper, which was presented to him as a gift, for seven years before he let a renowned artist draw a picture on it and he himself wrote a poem on it.
A book published in Paris in 1894, went into a lot of detail about the good features of Korean paper, especially Koryo paper.
There were several places across Koryo where ink was made, namely Maengsan, Sunchon and Nyongbyon.
During Koryo period writing brushes varied in kinds according to their sizes and materials.
Among them a brush made of weasel-tail hair was a favourite for foreign neighbours, who valued it as one of Koryo specialities.
Koryo paper, ink and writing brushes satisfied local needs and they were also exported overseas.
Records tell that Koryo paper and ink enjoyed great popularity in overseas market and even fake Koryo paper was made in some countries.
Kim Hyon
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