A 1500-Year Legacy of Trust

The origins of Echizen Washi are said to trace back approximately 1500 years. According to local lore, there are two stories explaining how the art of papermaking was introduced to the region.

One theory suggests the method arrived from China along with the introduction of Buddhism, as paper was needed to copy sutras. Another is a legend in which a beautiful goddess appeared to villagers suffering from a poor harvest and taught them the art of papermaking. This goddess is known as "Kawakami Gozen" and is still revered today by local artisans as the deity of paper.

As if to support these legends, physical evidence of Echizen Washi's historical value also exists. Preserved in the Shōsō-in Imperial Repository in Nara is the Echizen no Kuni Shōzei-chō, a document dating back to 730 AD. This ledger recorded household registrations and taxes of the time, and recent analysis has revealed that the paper, made primarily from kōzo (paper mulberry), was crafted with an exceptionally high level of skill. This fact demonstrates that an advanced papermaking technology was already established in the Echizen region during the Nara period.

In the Heian period, its use expanded beyond official records, becoming prized as elegant writing paper in the world of female literature, represented by figures like Murasaki Shikibu and Sei Shonagon. This long history of supporting the nation's most important records and culture forms the bedrock of Echizen Washi's trustworthiness.