2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

The research on propagation of the world paper culture and elucidation of "Samarkand Paper".

Research Project

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Project/Area Number	18KK0003
Research Category	Fund for the Promotion of Joint International Research (Fostering Joint International Research (B))
Allocation Type	Multi-year Fund
Review Section	Medium-sized Section 1:Philosophy, art, and related fields
Research Institution	Aichi University of the Arts
Principal Investigator	koji shibazaki 愛知県立芸術大学, 美術学部, 教授 (10315872)
Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha)	神谷直希愛知県立大学, 情報科学部, 准教授 (00580945) 岩田明子愛知県立芸術大学, 美術学部, 非常勤講師 (50830741) 本田光子愛知県立芸術大学, 美術学部, 准教授 (80631126)
Project Period (FY)	2018-10-09 – 2024-03-31
Keywords	サマルカンド紙 / 世界の紙の伝播 / 紙 / 和紙 / データサイエンス
Outline of Final Research Achievements	This study is a foundational research project aimed at constructing a system to elucidate the paper quality, identity and similarity of Samarkand paper, which ceased to be produced 200 years ago. The study involves quantitative analysis of paper fibers through macro images　and qualitative analysis of collapsed paper fragments. Samarkand paper was thought to be made from mulberry fibers, but actual investigations have revealed that older samples, from the 11to the 15th centuries, predominantly contain hemp fibers, while later samples are primarily made from cotton. Scientific verification of Chinese paper excavated from tombs in the western regions of China dating back to the 8th century has also been conducted. Most of these papers were found to be made from hemp, but the discovery of mulberry fibers indicates that paper made from mulberry existed in the same area during the same period. This finding suggests that it is possible that Samarkand paper also included mulberry fiber paper.
Free Research Field	芸術表現
Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements	古代の紙のディープラーニングによる紙の繊維推定は他に研究例がなく、さらに量的な調査を行いサマルカンド紙や紙の伝播の解明につながる方法論の構築ができた。また多くの古い紙繊維のマクロ画像を収集できたことは、繊維推定の重要なデータベースとなりうる。ユネスコ国際会議（2019年）に招聘されサマルカンド紙調査及び紙繊維組成分析について報告したことは、後のウズベキスタンによる研究推進施策のきっかけになっている。またAIを用いた紙繊維組成分類に関してはIEEE Best Poster Awardを受賞した。一般にも日本経済新聞（2023年7月9日）において関連記事が3面に渡り掲載された。