It's fitting that, since the Chinese invented paper, they have developed refined gradations of it to use for calligraphy and painting. Legend has it that a Han dynasty court official named Cai Lun mixed mulberry tree bark, bamboo fibers and water and discovered how to make a new, lighter, cheaper surface than sticks of bamboo for drawing and keeping records. Today Chinese papers are available through art supply and fine stationery stores and in many little shops in Chinatowns.
Xuan Paper
The finest grade of Chinese calligraphy paper is called Xuan paper after the place it was originally developed. Xuan paper is not rice paper---most often it is made with the fibers of cherry tree bark or sandalwood. Sheng Xuan is a grade of Xuan paper that allows the ink to flow very freely. Artists prefer it when they want their letters and scenes to have an expressive quality, "Xie Yi," and are not so concerned with precise control. Shu Xuan is chosen for a style of writing or painting called "Gong Bi" which values meticulous detail. The ink is much easier to control on Shu Xuan paper so the work produced can be very accurate. Handcrafted Xuan paper can have varied textures and properties and it is claimed that it will last for 1,000 years---useful if you are creating immortal work.
Mian Paper
Mian paper is cheaper than Xuan paper and is used by painters and calligraphers for practice. It comes in sheets and large rolls and is widely sold within and outside China. It is not rice paper either. Mian paper is made of plant fibers and today is primarily manufactured, not handmade. In China, they call this type of paper "cotton paper" but it isn't made of cotton---it just looks like cotton fibers when it is torn because it will tear with a ragged edge. If you are offered "rice paper," check to see if it is Mian. Vendors will commonly refer to it as rice paper even though it has never been made of rice.
Mao Bian Paper
Mao Bian is the cheapest of the three papers. It is easy to distinguish because it has a smooth side with a grid for practicing calligraphy. The small notebooks sold in Chinatown shops that children use for learning calligraphy are Mao Bian paper. The back of the page, or the rougher side, presents more friction to a brush loaded with ink. An artist or experienced calligrapher might use the back of Mao Bian to experiment with technique. Using a very wet brush will cause Mao Bian paper to buckle and pucker. A trick to restore it to a smooth flat surface so it can be completely used---or saved if the practice is exceptionally good---is to stick it to the mirror when the bathroom is steamy from a hot shower. No surprise---Mao Bian is not made of rice either. Scholars have correctly pointed out that, if the Chinese made their paper from rice, insects would have devoured most of it long ago.
