Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 23, 2026

Gampi

Gampi or ganpi are a group of Japanese shrubs, members of the genus Wikstroemia, some of which have been used for making paper since the 8th century. It is used to make the high quality washi paper, as are the kōzo and mitsumata trees.

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Wikstroemia uva-ursi with unripe fruit source ↗
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Gampi or ganpi1 are a group of Japanese shrubs, members of the genus Wikstroemia, some of which have been used for making paper since the 8th century.2 It is used to make the high quality washi paper, as are the kōzo and mitsumata trees.3

Various sources have identified gampi or ganpi as:

  • Wikstroemia albiflora Yatabe: known as Miyama ganpi in Japan4
  • Wikstroemia canescens (Wall.) Meisn.1 (syn. Diplomorpha canescens5): a south Asian plant
  • Wikstroemia ganpi (Siebold & Zucc.) Maxim.: known as Ko ganpi in Japan4
  • Wikstroemia kudoi Makino: Endemic to Kyushu (Yakushima). Known as Shakunan-ganpi in Japan.6
  • Wikstroemia pauciflora (Franch. & Sav.) Makino: known as Sakura ganpi in Japan4
  • Wikstroemia pseudoretusa Koidz.: Endemic to the Ogasawara Islands. Known in Japan as Munin-aoganpi.6
  • Wikstroemia retusa A.Gray:5 known in Japan as Ao ganpi4
  • Wikstroemia sikokiana Franch. & Sav.7 (syn. Diplomorpha sikokiana5): known in Japan as Ganpi4
  • Wikstroemia trichotoma (Thunb.) Makino: used for paper-making in China, Korea and Japan;8 known as Ki ganpi in Japan.4
References

References

  1. Taylor, Travis (2007-08-20). "Gampi". Oriental papermaking fibres. University of Melbourne, School of Historical and Philosophical Studies, The Centre for Cultural Materials Preservation. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  2. Salter, Rebecca (2001). Japanese woodblock printing. University of Hawaii Press. p. 38. ISBN 978-0-8248-2553-9.
  3. "Washi - Japanese paper". InfomapJapan. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  4. "M.M.P.N.D. - Sorting Wikstroemia names". www.plantnames.unimelb.edu.au. Retrieved 22 April 2018.
  5. "Gampi" (PDF). Untitled pdf document. Cornell University Library: Department of Preservation and Maintenance. Retrieved 9 July 2012. Wikstroemia misspelled as Wikstreomia and Diplomorpha sikokiana misspelled as Diplomorphs in this source
  6. Flora of Japan Archived 2012-07-22 at the Wayback Machine
  7. "Wikstroemia sikokiana - Franch.&Sav". Plants for a Future. Retrieved 9 July 2012.
  8. "Wikstroemia trichotoma (Thunb.) Makino". khartasia-crcc.mnhn.fr. Retrieved 22 April 2018.