Raw (sheng) Xuan and treated/sized (fanji) Xuan serve different painting styles. This guide maps freehand versus gongbi brushwork to the right paper finish, compares both products side by side, and gives importers and studio program buyers a pre-order verification checklist for sizing behavior before bulk orders.
Raw (sheng) Xuan and treated (fanji) Xuan behave differently under the brush. If you stock the wrong one for a studio program, the paper will either bleed uncontrollably or fight the artist's dry-brush accents. This guide maps painting style to paper finish and gives importers a verification checklist to run before confirming a bulk order.
Key Takeaways
- Raw Xuan = unsized, high ink bleed, suited to expressive freehand (xieyi) brushwork.
- Treated Xuan = controlled sizing in light, medium, or heavy levels, suited to gongbi fine-brush and layered color.
- Both products share the same standard sheet (69 cm × 138 cm), custom size range (50×100 cm to 97×180 cm), MOQ (200 sheets), and lead time (30–45 days after sample approval).
- Verify sizing behavior with a brush test on the actual batch before you release a bulk order — sizing uniformity is tested per sheet, and documentation can be requested per batch.
Why Raw vs Treated Xuan Matters to a Buyer
Your studio program buyers and retail customers do not buy "rice paper" generically — they buy a paper that will behave a certain way when wet ink hits the surface. The fiber itself (bark fiber, qingpi) is the same base material. The difference is sizing: an internal treatment that slows how fast ink and water spread through the sheet.
Get that distinction wrong in your catalog and you create returns, re-orders, and frustrated instructors. Get it right and the paper becomes a repeat-purchase item because it does exactly what the painter expects.
Two Paper Types, Two Painting Methods
Raw Xuan — for freehand (xieyi) brushwork
Raw Xuan has no added sizing. Ink and water move outward from the brushstroke on contact, which is the entire point for freehand painting: a single loaded stroke can produce a soft edge, a gradation, or a merging of two washes. The paper rewards speed and confidence, and it punishes hesitation — which is why it belongs with painters who work in the xieyi tradition.
Our Raw Xuan Paper Professional uses natural bark fiber (qingpi) with a professional raw finish. The key specification for buyers is that ink bleed is batch-tested with a documented bleed radius — a measurable value, not a marketing claim. If your program teaches freehand landscape or flower-and-bird painting, this is the paper you specify.
Treated Xuan — for gongbi (fine-brush) work
Treated Xuan carries controlled sizing that limits how far ink and color travel. That control is what makes it possible to lay down fine outlines, build color in layers, and place small details without the edges blurring together. Sizing level matters here: Treated Xuan Paper for Gongbi is available with light, medium, or heavy sizing selectable according to the technique your buyers use.
Sizing uniformity is tested per sheet, and sizing documentation is available per batch. For a studio program, that means you can specify a sizing level once and re-order against it, rather than hoping the next shipment feels the same.
Side-by-Side Comparison
| Decision Factor | Raw Xuan | Treated Xuan (Gongbi) |
|---|---|---|
| Finishing | Professional raw finish, no added sizing | Bark fiber with controlled sizing |
| Sizing options | None | Light / medium / heavy (selectable) |
| Ink behavior | Free bleed; batch-tested bleed radius documented | Controlled spread; sizing uniformity tested per sheet |
| Best-fit style | Freehand (xieyi), expressive washes | Gongbi fine-brush, layered color, detail work |
| Standard sheet | 69 cm × 138 cm | 69 cm × 138 cm |
| Custom sizes | 50×100 cm to 97×180 cm | 50×100 cm to 97×180 cm |
| MOQ | 200 sheets | 200 sheets |
| Lead time | 30–45 days after sample approval | 30–45 days after sample approval |
| Quality documentation | Batch-tested ink bleed, bleed radius documented | Sizing documentation per batch; surface check plus AQL inspection |
| Trade terms | FOB / CIF / DDP by quote | FOB / CIF / DDP by quote |
Turning Style into a Stocking Decision
Most distributors and studio buyers do not need one paper — they need a clear split in the catalog. A practical starting point:
- If your market is freehand-led (Chinese-community schools in the Americas, Southeast Asian calligraphy and painting studios), stock Raw Xuan as your lead SKU and carry Treated Xuan as a secondary line for gongbi classes.
- If your market is gongbi- or detail-led (museum shops, fine-art programs in Japan/Korea, Middle East and Central/Eastern European art academies), lead with Treated Xuan and specify a sizing level. Keep Raw Xuan for painters who ask for it by name.
- If you serve both, split your catalog by style rather than by price tier. Buyers are buying behavior, not just sheet count.
Custom sizes are available across the full 50×100 cm to 97×180 cm range for both products, which lets you match the formats your program already mounts and frames instead of forcing a resize.
Pre-Order Verification Checklist
Before releasing a bulk order — especially a first order — run these checks on the sample or batch:
- Confirm the finish in writing. State raw or treated, and if treated, name the sizing level (light, medium, or heavy).
- Request the bleed or sizing documentation. Raw Xuan: batch-tested ink bleed with documented bleed radius. Treated Xuan: sizing documentation per batch, plus the surface check and AQL inspection record.
- Brush-test the sample yourself. Load a brush and test ink spread at the width your program actually uses. Judge whether the spread matches the style you are stocking for.
- Check sheet-to-sheet consistency. Sizing uniformity is tested per sheet — verify that several sheets from the same batch behave the same way, not just the top sheet.
- Confirm size, MOQ, and lead time. Standard 69 cm × 138 cm or a custom size within 50×100 cm to 97×180 cm; MOQ 200 sheets; 30–45 days after sample approval.
- Fix trade terms before production. FOB, CIF, or DDP by quote — confirm which applies to your destination.
If a sizing level or size needs to be adjusted after the sample stage, that is a specification conversation, not a production surprise — settle it before approval so the bulk run matches what you tested.
FAQ
- Can I use raw Xuan for gongbi painting?
- It is possible with a very dry brush and quick strokes, but raw Xuan has no sizing to hold fine outlines, so ink spreads. For gongbi detail work, specify Treated Xuan at a light, medium, or heavy sizing level instead.
- How do I know the sizing level is consistent across a batch?
- Sizing uniformity is tested per sheet, and sizing documentation is available per batch for Treated Xuan. Ask for that documentation and brush-test a few sheets from the batch yourself before committing to bulk.
- Do both papers come in the same sizes and order terms?
- Yes. Both come in a standard 69 cm × 138 cm sheet and custom sizes from 50×100 cm to 97×180 cm, with an MOQ of 200 sheets and a 30–45 day lead time after sample approval. Trade terms are quoted as FOB, CIF, or DDP.
Next Step
Decide which painting style dominates your catalog, then match it to the right finish. Raw Xuan for expressive freehand; treated Xuan with a named sizing level for gongbi. Request a sample, run the brush test, and confirm the batch documentation before you place the order — that is the fastest way to avoid a stock problem you cannot fix after the paper is cut.