Yan Ruyi explains in detail the entire process of making paper, starting with the age and type of bamboo that is used, describing the time-consuming tasks of cutting the stalks, preparation for soaking in lime, and the lengthy soaking period. This is followed by five days of steaming, then washing, and another cooking, this time in lye. Then comes the most intriguing part, namely, the beating of the pulp, which is accomplished by "...several barefoot men [who] stamp the pulp and dredge it up to put in the vat." The story continues with a description of the additives to the pulp, formation of the sheets, drying on heated mud walls, and an explanation of how the paper is dyed. The book itself is charmingly presented in a Chinese format, printed by Rumford on his own paper, using an antique Japanese press, with handset type, and illustrated with hand-tinted etchings. It is rather a pity that Rumford published such a small edition, only thirty copies. Granted, there may not be very many paper historians around who wish to read about bamboo paper, but I know there are certainly more than thirty, since the edition sold out before I could purchase a copy. It was a true delight, therefore, to be asked to review the book and to be loaned a review copy. Jim Rumford has written, translated, and published other essays about Chinese papermaking, also in very small editions. It would be a real service to the general literature of old papermaking if he were to combine all of these essays into one book; or, perhaps, if he allowed Hand Papermaking or the Friends of Dard Hunter to publish the text, so that a larger audience could enjoy his research and translations, and learn more about the old ways of producing paper entirely by hand methods.

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