The History of Paper: Handmade Roots

Paper making was invented in China by Tsai’ai Lun in 105 A.D. during the reign of Emperor Ho Ti. At that time , the Chinese custom was to place metal coins in the royal tombs but when the tomb of Emperor Ho Ti’s relative was vandalized, the the empeor started the practice of placing paper in the royal tombs as a substitute for the metal coins. Aside from being placed in the royal tombs during the early ages, paper clothing like the intricate-designed Mandarin coat were burned at Chinese funerals because of the belief that this will enable the deceased to have a fine garments in the life hereafter. The Chinese are credited also for using the first paper notes as money during the reign of Emperor Tsung of the Tang Dynasty.

The Chinese were the first to use toilet paper. They consider handmade paper a sacred thing. Japan, on the other hand, started it’s handmade paper industry in 610 A.D. As we are familiar with the Japanese paper, paper lanterns, paper screens, paper fans and paper umbrellas.

However, in the Philippines, last August 1995, the Federation of Handmade Paper Makers and Converters, Inc. (FEHPA) launched the so-called Training on Wheels program where free demonstrations on the basics of handmade paper making were given to a groups of out-of-school youths, students, farmers, garbage pickers, idle housewives and other groups based not only within Metro Manila but extends to other cities and provinces.

Aside from this, the FEHPA gave seminars on basic paper making all around the Philippines. Trade Fairs were held showcase their products of paper sheets and craft items made handmade and/ or recycled paper. Display and selling trade fair catering to both and local foreign buyers and later go into exports business.

Our handmade paper industry in the Philippines is unique and a class itself. The main raw material component is fiber. We have more than 300 different kinds of abundant fibers in the Philippines. Abaca Fiber is the base fiber used although this is usually blended with our other native fibers to produce beautiful handmade paper with different textures, thickness and colors. Abaca is the strongest material fiber in the world. Not only native fibers can be used for handmade paper but also the weeds and grass (like cogon) and also the agricultural waste like abaca and rice straws. Nothing goes to waste in handmade paper making.

Today, the Philippines is a leading exporter of handmade paper sheets and converted products to different countries in Europe, United States of America, Australia, Canada and even in other Asian countries like Japan, Singapore and Hongkong.