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. The earliest excavated inkstone is dated from the 3rd century BC, and was discovered in a tomb located in modern Yunmeng, Hubei. Usage of the inkstone was popularized during the Han dynasty.

Tang, Song, and Yuan dynasties

thumb|Inkstone, [[Tang dynasty]]

Stimulated by the social economy and culture, the demand for inkstones increased during the Tang dynasty (618–905) and reached its height in the Song dynasty (960–1279). Song dynasty inkstones can be of great size and often display a delicacy of carving. Song dynasty inkstones can also exhibit a roughness in their finishing. Dragon designs of the period often reveal an almost humorous rendition; the dragons often seem to smile. From the subsequent Yuan dynasty, in contrast, dragons display a ferocious appearance.

left|thumb|Inkstone with phoenix design, attributed to Qing dynasty artisan [[Gu Erniang]]

Qing dynasty

The transition to civil rule under Kangxi Emperor in 1681 saw an increase in imperial inkstone production. Inkstones were often given as gifts, likely in part to help connect existing Chinese literati culture to the new Manchu imperial culture.

The Qianlong Emperor had his own imperial collection of inkstones catalogued into a twenty-four chapter compendium entitled Xiqing yanpu (Hsi-ch'ing yen-p'u). Many of these inkstones are housed in the National Palace Museum collection in Taipei.

Qing dynasty emperors often had their inkstones made of Songhua stones, but this choice was not popular outside of the imperial workshop. Inkstone design outside the palace developed largely in parallel with imperial inkstone design, although they occasionally intersected.

Material and construction

Inkstones can be made from a variety of materials, such as ceramics, lacquered wood, glass, or old bricks. However, they are typically made from stones harvested specifically for inkstone-making.

Quality of inkstones

Two types of rock are mainly used to make inkstones:

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 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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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. 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.
  3. Chengni inkstones () are ceramic-manufactured inkstones. This process began in the Tang dynasty and is said to have originated in Luoyang, Henan.

Usage

thumb|Grinding ink with inkstone and inkstick

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.

<gallery widths="180" heights="250" mode="packed">

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.

</gallery>

See also

  • Inkwell

Notes

References

  • T.C.Lai, Treasures of a Chinese Studio, Hong Kong, 1976.
  • Kitabatake Sōji and Kitabatake Gotei, Chūgoku kenzai shūsei (A Compendium on Chinese Inkstones), Tokyo, 1980.
  • Kitabatake Sōji and Kitabatake Gotei, Suzuri-ishi gaku (An Inkstone Encyclopedia), Tokyo, 1977.
  • Yin-ting hsi-ch'ing yen-p'u (An Imperial Catalogue of the Western Brightness Collection of Inkstones), 24 chapters, preface 1778.