Ink Stone, also called ink slab, is a kind of stationery used for the grinding and containment of ink. In ancient China, ink was solidified into sticks as there was no better way for its transportation and preservation.
The history of ink stone can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618-905) and it reached its peak during the Song Dynasty (960-1276). They are usually round in shape with a concave or a flat grinding surface. Sometimes, a lid, which was made of wood or of the same stone, would also be found together with the ink stone. In ancient times, some people even had their names or other words engraved on their ink stones to be passed on to their later generations.
The quality and the texture of the ink will be affected by the ink stone greatly. Of all the kinds of inks stones, there are four of them especially noted as Four Famous Ink Stones. They are:
- The Duan ink stone from Duanxi, Guangdong
- She ink stone from Anhui
- Tao River ink stone from Gansu
- Chengni ceramic ink stone from Shanxi
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