Traditional  

Hanji   

Making  

Process

Making a single sheet of Hanji is a labor-intensive journey. It is often said that the paper requires 99 touches by the artisan and is completed only by the 100th touch of the user.

1. Harvesting and Steaming (Jirak)

The process begins in winter (November to February) by harvesting one-year-old Dak (Paper Mulberry) branches. These are steamed in a large cauldron for several hours until the bark softens and can be easily peeled from the wood. 

2. Peeling and Preparing the White Bark

The dark outer bark is scraped away to reveal the inner white bark (Abak). This white bark is then dried in the sun. This stage is crucial as it determines the final color and purity of the paper. 

3. Boiling with Lye

The dried white bark is soaked and then boiled for 4–5 hours in lye (traditionally made from the ashes of buckwheat stalks or bean pods). This alkaline solution breaks down non-fibrous materials like lignin and pectin, leaving only the pure cellulose fibers.

4. Rinsing and Natural Bleaching

The boiled fibers are washed in clear, running stream water. They are left in the water for several days to be naturally bleached by the sun and the flowing water. During this time, any remaining impurities or scarred fibers are removed by hand. 

5. Beating (Dak-du-ri)

The cleaned fibers are placed on a stone slab and beaten with wooden mallets (Dak-bang-mang-i). This mechanical action separates the fibers and makes them soft and flexible without breaking their natural length, which is the secret to Hanji's strength.

6. Mixing the Pulp and "Paper Glue" (Pul-mu-chi)

The beaten pulp is mixed into a large vat of water. A natural mucilage called Dak-pul, extracted from the roots of the Hibiscus manihot, is added. This acts as a dispersing agent that keeps the fibers suspended evenly and controls the speed at which water drains through the screen. 

7. Sheet Forming (Bal-tteugi)

Using a bamboo screen (Bal), the artisan scoops the pulp mixture.

• Oebal-tteugi (Traditional One-way Method): This unique Korean technique involves rocking the screen in four directions (front, back, left, right). This causes the fibers to intertwine in a crisscross pattern, making the paper exceptionally strong in all directions. 

8. Pressing and Drying

Wet sheets are stacked and pressed overnight with heavy weights to slowly remove moisture. They are then dried individually, traditionally on heated stone floors or wooden boards, to prevent shrinking and ensure a flat finish. [3]

9. Pounding for the Final Finish (Dochim)

The unique final step, Dochim, involves pounding the dried sheets. This compresses the fibers, closes the pores, and results in a smooth, dense, and lustrous surface that prevents ink from bleeding.