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Inkstones are much more than just practical items for ink grinding. There are two main types; one for everyday use and another for decorative or collecting purposes. In ancient China beautifully carved and inscribed inkstones made by famous artists were often presented as tribute or gift from one ruler to another. Some historical inkstones can be extremely valuable, with prices reaching as high as few million USD. Nowadays prices of good quality inkstones range from one to fifty thousand dollars.
There are four famous regions in China that are well known for quality inkstones. These are:
1. Duan inkstone (端硯) from Guandong province (広東省)
2. She inkstone (歙硯) from Anhui province (安徽省),
3. Taohe inkstone (洮河硯) from Gansu province (甘粛省)
4. Chengni inkstone (澄泥硯) from Shandong province (山東省)
“Duan” inkstones are the best ones available. They are made of volcanic tuff that is richly interwoven with natural markings that are brilliantly utilized by skilled inkstones makers during carving.
“She” inkstones are not far off in quality. They are mostly black colour, naturally sprayed with sparkling markings that resemble a night sky painted in bright stars.
“Tao” inkstones are made from jade colour stones mined from the bottom of the river Tao. They are very rare and quite pricey. Due to fact that the stone used for their production lay under the water for centuries, if not longer, Tao inkstones have extremely low water absorption ability, which is one of the main features of a good inkstone.
“Chengni” inkstones are not carved but crafted. They are mineral based, being made out of filtered silt collected from the Yellow River. Silt is then mixed with other ingredients, formed, dried, inscribed and fired in a kiln. Chengni inkstone not only produces very fine ink but also have great ornamental value.
In Japan, out of over 20 regions producing inkstones, few need to be distinguished here. These are: Yamaguchi Prefecture (山口県), Miyagi Prefecture (宮城県), Mie Prefecture (三重県), and Yamanashi Prefecture (山梨県). These four especially manufacture inkstones out of stones mined in Japan. Others use mainly materials imported from China.
Regardless of the region or country, stones from various regions have different characteristics, such as hardness, colour, natural patterns, etc. The latter two are often used as an integral part of a beautiful design or carving. Needless to say, it further increases the value of an inkstone.
Emmily
annotated1+ month ago
Duan inkstones are one of the most prized Chinese inkstones with their unique purplish color. They are produced in Duanxi, Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province in South China.
David
annotated1+ month ago
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Inkstones (or ink slabs) are vessels in which ink is ground with an ink stick. Chinese invented the ink stone. Inkstones are manufactured from stone, clay, bronze, iron, and porcelain. They have a smooth flat surface to grind the ink stick into liquid ink and to this purpose they created an ingenious grinding tool - the inkstone.
David
annotated1+ month ago
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Táo(hé)yàn) 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.
David
annotated1+ month ago
Yamaguchi Prefecture will be delighted to present the following three items: authentic “Akama ink stone”, Akama inkstone has been made in Yamaguchi prefecture, Japan since 14 century; gorgeous “Ouchi Lacquer Ware” with a history dating back to the Muromachi period; “Hagi Ware (pottery and porcelain)” which was introduced in by potters from Korean Peninsula about 400 years ago and has long been admired in the world of tea ceremony.
David
annotated1+ month ago
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The very fine mud under the bed of the Fenhe River is filtered, mixed with bounding material, dried and carved into inkstone, then fired in the kiln. Because of the different minerals in the mud and also the different temperature of the firing, final products have different colors.
Emmily
annotated1+ month ago
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.
David
annotated1+ month ago
She inkstone is one of the most sought collector's item among the literati and elite for thousands of years. It is named after Shezhou Prefecture, Anhui Province, where it was first produced in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). She inkstone is made of gray, light green, or black rare slate with markings, and the stone appears in layers and is hard. She inkstone has three features: quick forming of ink, no harm done to the brush, and preserving wetness of ink.