Samarkand’s paper factory


The visiting of old paper workshop


In Middle Ages Samarkand was famous to the whole East with its paper, the technology of production of which was depended from China in VII century. The secrets of this craft were forgotten and restored with the help of YUNESKO.
Today the famous in past Samarkand’s paper is produced again by old recipes in specially built paper workshop in the village Konigil in the suburbs of Samarkand (in 10 kilometers from the centre of Samarkand to the way to Bukhara).
Industrial mechanisms here, like in past, are moved by water wheel, which uses the water of the river Siab. Here, like many centuries ago, one can see with his own eyes all the process of preparation of famous Samarkand’s paper by ancient restored technology.
During centuries Samarkand was famous with its goods, such as textile, carpets, and the paper. First paper factory in Bagdad appeared only in half century after that its production was organized in Samarkand. It’s notable, that Samarkand’s paper, owing to its high quality put out from markets various kinds of Egypt’s paper and leather.
Uzbek writer, thinker and scientist Alisher Navoi named the paper “the wings, which spread to the world the thoughts of wise people”.
The paper was invented by Chinese people between 71styear B. S. and 21styear A. D. First for its preparation they took the silk cotton wool and worked till getting the homogeneous mass. Then they drew this mass by bamboo net. This dried on the net mass was the paper.
The national masters of the village Konigil in the suburb of Samarkand restored the production of famous in Middle Ages paper from the bark of the mulberry tree. In masters’ opinion, this kind of paper differs with special smoothness and pleasant color, which doesn’t tire the eyes in reading the old calligraphy letter.
- Я уже слышал, что вы стараетесь возродить не только технологию изготовления бумаги, но и сам промысел, а также старинную производственную базу? Having placed the using material in stone mortar, Chinese people rubbed it with water in cereal, from which they took the paper. For getting its form was used the frame with net bottom, made of thin bamboo sticks and silk threads. Having poured a little cereal in form, they began shake the frame to all directions in order to make thick felt. The water was flowing and there remained a damp paper on the net. It was taken carefully, put on the board and dried in the sun. The papers were gripped under the wooden press. The recipes of preparation of papers were kept in great government mystery. But there were industrial spies then. In result in 610 the paper secret was taken away by Buddhist monks Donho and Godzo to Korea and Japan. - Каково назначение бумаги и ее применение? Связано ли оно с повседневной жизнью? In 650 warriors, having run from Chinese captivity, working in paper factories, began prepare the paper in Samarkand. Samarkand’s paper was taken from old linen clothes and its getting went successfully and it even began to put out all other kinds of paper.
The white paper usually was taken from white cloth, filling the mass with damp starch. The colored paper was popular too. For example, on the blue paper- the color of sadness and sorrow were written the death penalties; the red color meant happiness and humanity- on such paper usually was written appeal to compassion; the yellow paper was very popular, colored by saffron for orders and special disposal. And colored paper, like nowadays, was recommended for various kinds of decorations.


Samarkand’s paper factory


The visiting of old paper workshop


It is known, that Samarkand was the first place in Middle East, where was produced the paper, handmade with the help of water mill. Later, owing to Arabians and the culture of Islam’s world, the technology of its preparation spread to the West- from the Middle East (XI) to Spain (XII), and then to whole Europe.
Imagine yourself: you opened the favorite novel or fairy tale, and the thin aroma of tea rose begins turning your head. And this aroma releases the paper with rose petals. Is it pleasant?
Among unique crafts, having brought to Samarkand the world fame on trade roads of the Great Silk Road, an important place belongs to the production of the paper. It is the indicator not only the mastership of craftsmen, but the reflection of the main role of ancient city in development of the science and culture of the Middle Aged East.
The decision about the awarding to Samarkand the status of keeper of the world and historical and architectural values, received by session YUNESKO in 2001, opens before the investigators and the Association of masters “Meros” the wide possibilities not only in studying, but in active revival, in propaganda of monuments of gold heritage, traditional crafts one of the great cultural and trade- economic centers of the Middle Aged East.
The Middle Aged author As- Salibi informed, that the paper, producing in China and Samarkand put out from usage the Egyptian papyrus and parchment, on which ancestors wrote.
About the restoring of the production the famous Samarkand’s paper tells Zarif Muhtarov, the chairman of Samarkand’s association of the craftsmen, the Centre of the development of crafts:
Проект "Открытие Центра по изготовлению ручной бумаги" уже прошел апробацию в представительствах ЮНЕСКО и "Каунтерпарт консорциум". Он передан в посольства Швейцарии и Японии в Узбекистане, которые изъявили намерение поддержать его реализацию с финансовой стороны. -In this professional walk of life we have already formed the family dynasty. My brother Islom and son Sanjar, and also my nephew Mehroj began producing this traditional paper too.
-What kind of materials, methods and technology are used in production the Samarkand’s paper?
- The paper is prepared from mulberry bark, cotton, and also waste of cotton and silk production, from root of young mulberry tree and other ingredients. For special piquancy in “paper milk” are added wool and silk threads and flower petals.
Now the Association “Meros” (“Heritage”) received the part of the land near the river Siab, not far from observatory Ulugbek and the town Afrasiab in Samarkand.
The project “The opening of the centre in production hand paper” has already passed the approbation in representations of UNESCO and “Counterpart consortium”.