Applying Rice Paste Resist, Kyō Yūzen

The outline of the design is covered with a rice paste resist to prevent transfer of the dye. Long ago a heated mixture of glutinous rice, white or red rice bran, lime, and sappanwood, called manori, was used. Today gum Arabic is also used. The choice of resist affects the order of the procedure and the final result. The resist is applied using a funnel fashioned from handmade washi paper brushed with persimmon tannin, with a narrow metal tip. The delicate, fine lines of the resist clearly separate the various colors.