In the last episode, we mentioned that both paper and silk have raw and cooked versions, and good cooked paper becomes more densely fibrous and more absorbent after processing. Papermaking technology flourished more in the Yuan dynasty and the quality was better. The use of ink in painting also evolved later, with masters like Shi Tao, Bada Shanren, Qingteng, and Baiyang all adept at using various ink techniques in their bold, expressive styles, similar to Western Impressionism but predating it by centuries. Their paintings now sell for hundreds of millions at auctions.
Learning Chinese art requires understanding its formats and terminologies. The “binding strap” refers to the silk band in the middle of a painting used to bind the scroll. The “rope” is for hanging the artwork, and the two ends need to be firmly nailed down, also called the “rope hoop”. The “painting pole” is the round wooden roller used to roll up the painting, with the thinner top end called the “sky pole”. The “sky head” is the section of paper or silk folded over the top of the scroll to protect it. The “startled swallow band” are the two dangling ribbons on the sky pole, meant to scare away birds from damaging the painting. Below the “sky head” is the “top water separator”, used to divide different sections. The “painting heart” refers to the original painting itself. Mounting involves firmly adhering the painting heart to another sheet of paper for protection. If an old painting needs to be remounted, soaking can soften the adhesive to separate the layers.