Preparations of Indigo-dyed Sutra Paper for Receiving Gold-or Silver-paste Penned Scripture

Abstract

This study examines the preparation of handmade sutra paper which was dyed with a colorant, indigo, for the purpose of penning Buddhism scriptures using gold or silver pastes. The methodology pursued was to dye the fibers internally first, then form sheets with the dyed fibers. This approach differs from the traditional method of dip dyeing the sheets, hence it not only reduced the tedium of the repeated dipping, washing, and color development procedure, but also provided high quality sutra paper sheets with consistent tone from beginning to end. Parameters of the study included pH of the fiber stock, sequence of the dyeing process, dosage of the fixing agent, addition of various mordants, dosages of sodium hydrosulfite (a reducing agent) and sodium hydroxide, and duration of contact with the dye solution. The most appropriate conditions were then selected and commercial-sized indigo-dyed sutra paper was formed by hand. The sutra paper thus prepared not only has a deeper and more elegant tone, but also exhibits much greater color stability after irradiation with UV light, far in excess of both the control group dyed with commonly used paper dyes and commercial sutra paper.