Bhutan · Paper Making

Dzo-sho Bhutanese Handmade Paper Making

རྫོང་ཤོག (Dzo-sho)

Dzo-sho (རྫོང་ཤོག — 'dzong paper') is Bhutan's traditional handmade paper — produced from the bark of Daphne species shrubs (Daphne bholua and Edgeworthia gardneri — locally called re in Dzongkha) using a technique structurally similar to Japanese washi (CRAFT-0464) but distinct in its use of a floating sheet technique rather than nagashizuki rocking: the fiber pulp is poured over a submerged cloth mold and allowed to settle by gravity rather than actively distributed by rocking motion. The defining Bhutanese technique is the sun-drying on wooden boards: the wet sheet is transferred to a wooden board and placed in direct mountain sunlight — the UV exposure during drying creates the characteristic slightly translucent and acid-free quality of dzo-sho that makes it ideal for thangka backing and Buddhist text preservation.

Risk level: Endangered · Bhutan national ICH list; Zorig Chusum state designation

Alternate Names
Dzo-sho; De-sho; Bhutanese paper; Daphne paper
Geographic Center
Thimphu (Re-sho paper making center near dzong); Trashigang (eastern tradition)
Community / Ethnic Group
Bhutanese paper-making community
Estimated Origin
Tradition documented from 7th–8th century CE Buddhist transmission; mature dzo-sho tradition from 12th century
Cultural Function
Buddhist scripture and text writing substrate; thangka backing and mounting; official government document paper (traditionally); envelope and packaging for religious objects
Primary Materials
Daphne bholua or Edgeworthia gardneri bark (re shrub — specific Bhutanese species); wood ash lye for fiber preparation; mountain water
Primary Tools
Cloth mold (floating sheet technique); bark beating stone; vat for gravity settling; wooden drying boards
Process Overview
Re bark harvesting → wood ash lye cooking → beating to pulp → slurry concentration → gravity pour over submerged cloth mold → 3–5 minute settling → horizontal mold lift → morning sun board drying
Traditional Applications
Buddhist scripture substrate; thangka backing; official document paper
Contemporary Applications
Art paper; conservation paper; cultural tourism object; luxury stationery
Notable Practitioners
Thimphu dzo-sho workshops — approximately 10 active; Trashigang eastern paper tradition; National Institute paper-making teachers
Key References
Barrett, T. (1983). Japanese Papermaking. Weatherhill (comparative); Bartholomew, T. & Johnston, J. (2008). The Dragon's Gift. Serindia; Bhutan Paper Association documentation
Verification Status
Verified

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