Inkstone

An inkstone is a stone mortar for the grinding and containment of ink. In addition to stone, inkstones are also manufactured from clay, bronze, iron, and porcelain. The device evolved from a rubbing tool used for rubbing dyes dating around 6,000 to 7,000 years ago. It is part of traditional Chinese stationery.

An inkstone is a stone mortar for the grinding and containment of ink. In addition to stone, inkstones are also manufactured from clay, bronze, iron, and porcelain. The device evolved from a rubbing tool used for rubbing dyes dating around 6,000 to 7,000 years ago. It is part of traditional Chinese stationery.

History

Quality of inkstones

Two types of rock are mainly used to make inkstones: underwater eruptive rocks, such as the famous Chinese duānxī stone (端溪), in Japanese tankei 端渓; sedimentary rocks such as shexian stone, in Japanese kyūjū 歙州. The ink stone consists of a flat part called the “hill” (qiū [丘] or gāng [冈]; oka [丘] or [岡] in Japanese), and a hollow part “the sea”, hǎi, 海 (umi in Japanese) intended to collect the ink created. An ink stone is most appreciated for the grain, texture or even sound it produces when the Ink stick is rubbed against it in a circular motion: The best stones have always come from Chinese quarries on the south bank of the Xijiang in Guangdong. But quarrying these stones was dangerous and strenuous, as they were usually found in caves particularly hard hit by violent floods. Even today, many mines are still in operation, and the oldest stones over a hundred years old, also known as guyàn / ko-ken (古硯), are much more sought-after than the newer ones known as xinyàn / shin-ken (新硯). Some regions of Japan also produce good quality stones. A beginner can use very simple stones, which can later be upgraded to higher-quality ink stones as they progress.

Four Famous Inkstones

Four kinds of Chinese inkstones are especially noted in inkstone art history and are popularly known as the "Four Famous Inkstones". Duan inkstones ( ) are produced in Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province, and got its name from Duan Prefecture that governed the city during the Tang dynasty. Duan stone is a volcanic tuff, commonly of a purple to a purple-red color. There are various distinctive markings, due to various rock materials imbedded in the stone, that create unique designs and stone eyes (inclusions) which were traditionally valued in China. A green variety of the stone was mined in the Song dynasty. Duan inkstones are carefully categorized by the mines (k'eng) from which the raw stone was excavated. Particular mines were open only for discrete periods in history. For example, the Mazukeng mine was originally opened in the Qianlong reign (1736–1795), although reopened in modern times. She inkstones ( ) come from She County (Anhui Province) and Wuyuan County (Jiangxi Province). Both counties were under jurisdiction of the ancient She Prefecture of Huizhou during the Tang dynasty when the She inkstone was first made. This stone is a variety of slate and like Duan stone is categorized by the various mines from which the stone was obtained historically. It has a black color and also displays a variety of gold-like markings. She inkstones were first used during the Tang dynasty. Tao(he) inkstones ( ) are made from the stones found at the bottom of the Tao River in Gansu Province. These inkstones were first used during the Song dynasty and became rapidly desired. It bears distinct markings such as bands of ripples with varying shades. The stone is crystalline and looks like jade. These stones have become increasingly rare and are difficult to find. It can easily be confused with a green Duan stone, but can be distinguished by its crystalline nature. Chengni inkstones ( ) are ceramic-manufactured inkstones. This process began in the Tang dynasty and is said to have originated in Luoyang, Henan.

Usage

Traditional Chinese ink is solidified into inksticks. Usually, some water is applied onto the inkstone (by means of a dropper to control the amount of water) before the bottom end of the inkstick is placed on the grinding surface and then gradually ground to produce the ink. More water is gradually added during the grinding process to increase the amount of ink produced, the excess flowing down into the reservoir of the inkstone where it will not evaporate as quickly as on the flat grinding surface, until enough ink has been produced for the purpose in question. The Chinese grind their ink in a circular motion with the end flat on the surface whilst the Japanese push one edge of the end of the inkstick back and forth. Water can be stored in a water-holding cavity on the inkstone itself, as was the case for many Song dynasty (960–1279) inkstones. The water-holding cavity or water reservoir in time became an ink reservoir on later inkstones. Water was usually kept in a ceramic container and sprinkled on the inkstone. The inkstone, together with the ink brush, inkstick and Xuan paper, are the four writing implements traditionally known as the Four Treasures of the Study. File:Song Duan inkstone.JPG|Green Duan inkstone from the Song dynasty, China (Nantoyōsō Collection, Japan) File:Inkstone.jpg|She inkstone from the Song dynasty, China (Nantoyōsō Collection, Japan) File:Leaf-inkwell.JPG|Taohe inkstone from the Song dynasty, China, with Ming dynasty inscription (Nantoyōsō Collection, Japan) File:Inkstone with Jar Pattern, c. 1800-1894.jpg|Inkstone with jar pattern, c. 1800–1894, from the Oxford College Archives of Emory University File:隋至唐初 陶龜硯-"Inkstone" and Cover in the Shape of a Turtle MET DP224992.jpg|Earthenware inkstone and cover in the shape of a turtle, ca. 6th–7th century, from the Metropolitan Museum File:姚鼐铭砚台1126.jpg|Yao Naiming inkstone File:Jin Inkstone.jpg|Inkstone of Jin dynasty File:Duan Inkstone.JPG|A lotus leaf–shaped Duan inkstone File:Inkstone (Anyang Museum).jpg|Inkstone in Anyang Museum File:Tức Mặc Hầu.jpg|Tức Mặc Hầu, a inkstone owned by emperor Tự Đức.

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