Ancient papermaking technique of the Gao family in Donggao
Many villages on the north bank of the Qin River are famous for making woolen paper. Anquan River in Qinyang flows through Changle, Xinzhuang, Xiqinghe, Dongqinghe, Xigao Village, Donggao Village, Jiezhu, Tuntou, Nanxiang, Longquan, and Wei Village in Xixiang Town, and flows into Qin River at Xiqinyang and Xiyihe Village in Taihang Street. The river water is clear and the flow is sufficient all year round. The abundant Anquan River system provides sufficient water source conditions for making woolen paper. The traditional handicraft of making woolen paper has supported generations of people. The ancient papermaking method uses local wolfberry bark and wheat straw as raw materials. The raw materials are piled in a pool for soaking and boiling, and then the crushed raw materials are crushed into pulp on a stone mill. The crushed pulp is then put into a cloth bag for collision and rinsing in the river. After washing away impurities, pour the paper into the limited pool, add water and stir it into a paste, use a thin bamboo curtain to "fish" the wet paper out of the pool, and then use a pressure rod to squeeze out the water appropriately, decompose, apply the wall stickers and dry them in the sun until they are dry and the paper is removed. The whole process is considered complete. Grinding, bumping, twisting, beating, fishing, pressing, drying, and sorting each process is the crystallization of the wisdom of the ancients. In September 2015, the "Donggao Gao's Ancient Papermaking Technique" was included in the fourth batch of Henan Province's Intangible Cultural Heritage Extension Project List by the Henan Provincial People's Government. (No pictures yet, welcome to provide.) (No pictures yet, welcome to provide.)