Semi-Sized Xuan Paper for Ink Painting & Calligraphy — 100 or 200 Sheets
Semi-Sized Xuan Paper for Ink Painting & Calligraphy — 100 or 200 Sheets
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A beginner-friendly semi-sized xuan paper with balanced absorbency for Chinese ink painting, calligraphy, sumi-e, and everyday brush practice.
Unlike highly absorbent raw xuan, semi-sized xuan slows the spread of ink slightly, giving you more control while still keeping the soft, expressive character of traditional xuan paper.
The 25 × 35 cm (9.8 × 13.8 in) size is ideal for practicing flowers, bamboo, animals, calligraphy, fine brush lines, and light ink washes.
Choose 100 or 200 sheets depending on how often you practice.
Pair it with sumi liquid ink and Chinese calligraphy brushes for a simple everyday ink painting setup.
Starting from scratch? Our Chinese Ink Painting Beginner Kit includes brushes, xuan paper, sumi ink, and an ink dish.
Why you’ll love it
- Balanced absorbency for easier brush control
- Beginner-friendly and suitable for daily practice
- Works with ink, sumi ink, and light water-based color
- Great for Chinese ink painting, calligraphy, and sumi-e
- 25 × 35 cm / 9.8 × 13.8 in per sheet
Product Details
- Type: Semi-Sized Xuan Paper / Ban Sheng Shu Xuan
- Size: 25 × 35 cm / 9.8 × 13.8 in
- Quantity: 100 or 200 sheets
- Best for: Ink painting, calligraphy, sumi-e, florals, bamboo, birds and animals
- Absorbency: Balanced — more controlled than raw xuan
- Experience level: Beginner-friendly

A Gentle Paper for Your First Ink Painting Practice
Raw xuan paper can feel too fast for beginners. Fully sized paper can feel too stiff.
Semi-sized xuan paper gives you a softer middle ground. Ink can still breathe and spread, but the paper gives your brush more control, making it easier to practice calligraphy strokes, bamboo leaves, flowers, and simple ink washes at home.
How to Start Practicing With Semi-Sized Xuan Paper
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1. Start With Light Ink
Use a small amount of sumi ink or a light ink wash so you can see how the paper responds.
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2. Practice Slow Brush Strokes
Try simple lines, bamboo leaves, flower petals, or calligraphy strokes before moving into larger paintings.
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3. Build Confidence Sheet by Sheet
Use 100 sheets to begin your first practice setup, or choose 200 sheets for regular brush painting practice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is semi-sized xuan paper?
Semi-sized xuan paper, also known as Ban Sheng Shu Xuan, sits between raw xuan and fully sized xuan paper. It allows ink to spread softly while giving you more control over each brushstroke.
What is the difference between semi-sized and raw xuan paper?
Raw xuan is highly absorbent, so ink spreads quickly and creates softer, more expressive effects. Semi-sized xuan slows the spread slightly, giving you more control while still keeping the natural character of ink on xuan paper.
Is semi-sized xuan paper good for beginners?
Yes. Its balanced absorbency makes it easier to control than raw xuan, making it a comfortable choice for beginners learning ink painting or calligraphy.
Can I use it for both ink painting and calligraphy?
Yes. It works well for Chinese ink painting, calligraphy, sumi-e, flowers, bamboo, birds, animals, fine brush lines, and light ink washes.
What size is each sheet?
Each sheet measures 25 × 35 cm (9.8 × 13.8 in), a convenient size for daily brush practice and smaller artworks.
Should I choose 100 or 200 sheets?
Choose 100 sheets if you are just starting or practice occasionally. Choose 200 sheets if you paint or practice calligraphy regularly and want more paper available for ongoing practice.
- 5 stars: 7 (100%)
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- 1 star: 0 (0%)
The product arrived on the indicated date. A little wrinkled (maybe use cardboard to keep the product stretched). I tested it by tracing a line and it's a good material. Be careful with the amount of ink and humidity. But it's a good material. Thank you. I will buy again.
Paper as described - I am extremely satisfied! Although it is very thin, the paper is very sturdy, so when painting with ink, neither the color bleeds through nor the paper tears due to the moisture of the watercolor. I was not familiar with this type of paper before, just wanted to try it out, and I really liked it - thank you very much!
Impeccable conforme à ce que j’attendais
Merci beaucoup, Evelyne, pour votre adorable avis et vos 5 étoiles ! 🌸 Nous sommes ravis que notre papier réponde parfaitement à vos attentes. Nous vous souhaitons de merveilleux moments de créativité et de peinture ! ❤️
Beautiful Xuan paper for ink painting and calligraphy. The texture is soft, the ink spreads nicely, and the size is perfect for daily practice. Very happy with it!
Thank you so much, Emily! We’re so glad you’re enjoying the xuan paper and its soft texture and ink flow. It’s lovely to hear that it’s become a good fit for your daily practice. Happy painting!
Great quality paper! It works very well for ink painting and calligraphy, and I really like the texture and thickness. Very happy with my purchase and will definitely order again.
Thank you so much, Hannah! We’re so glad you’re enjoying the texture and quality of the xuan paper. It means a lot to hear that you’d order again — happy painting and calligraphy!