[1][2] Hanji is made from the inner bark of the paper mulberry (Broussonetia papyrifera; 닥; dak), a tree native to Korea that grows well on its rocky mountainsides.

[3] The process of creating hanji also employs dochim, a method of pounding finished sheets to compact fibers and lessen ink bleed.

In 610, The Buddhist monk Damjing whom Goguryeo presented to Japan was able to make the production method of paper and ink.

Paper crafts were also developed in the Three Kingdoms period, such as kites and other household items, and continued to flourish as hanji production increased.

Often called Goryeoji, hanji became famous in Asia for its strength and luster, and became a heavy trade item to China.

One was the carving of the Tripitaka Koreana onto over 80,000 wooden blocks, which contain no errors and are still extant in their original home at Haeinsa, a Buddhist temple in South Gyeongsang Province.

Printed onto hanji, it is housed today in the National Library of France, and displays proof of movable metal type well before Gutenberg's time.

From the start of the Joseon period in an effort to promote austerity, artificial flowers that had been made from wax and silk were replaced by paper versions.

Oiled hanji was used to make greenhouses c. 1450 because the paper, made of natural materials, could control temperature, humidity, and light effectively.

The paper mulberry is a commonly grown plant in Asia, growing in the feet of mountains that gets a lot of sunlight, reaching a growth height of usually 3 meters.

In Korean history, people used the fibers from these trees to make clothes, and they began to use it as the source for paper during the Goryeo dynasty.

Their roots contain a slimy mucus (called Dak Pul) which helps hold the paper together and give viscosity to the bark.

Ancient Koreans usually started making hanji during the winter, because the mucus from Abelmoschus manihot became easily fermented due to the summer heat.

Ancient Koreans believed that it was important to choose a good day with a nice sky to start making hanji, and often gave religious rituals to the spirits in order to wish for a favorable condition and a smooth process.

[17] It requires a lifelong practice to create perfect hanji, and this is the reason why it holds a great cultural value in Korea.

Three-dimensional hanji art is similar to paper mache, in that it can make sculptural objects that may stand unsupported.

Jiho is a method that uses hanji scraps soaked in water and then added to glue, making a clay-like paste that can be molded into lidded bowls.

Jiseung is a method of cording and weaving strips of hanji to make a wide array of household goods, including trays, baskets, mats, quivers, shoes, washbasins, and chamberpots.