The inkstone integrates calligraphy, painting, sculpture and other arts. Its unique color and shape, coupled with the natural and skillful carving, show solemnity and elegance, becoming the first of the "Four Treasures".
According to legend, "The Yellow Emperor obtained a jade button and made it into a sea of ??ink", which was the beginning of inkstone making. In primitive society, inkstones were called grinders. The shape of the inkstone is just a thick stone cake that is simply processed from irregular pebbles.
The texture of Han inkstones is mainly stone. There is no special inkstone material yet, but it is hard and wear-resistant. The shape has initially shown a trend of beautification, and the decoration and shape are mostly influenced by other art forms of the same period. The inkstone body is mostly divided into two parts: the inkstone body and the inkstone cover. The inkstone cover matches the inkstone body and protects the inkstone surface. The top and feet of the inkstone are mostly decorated with round carvings of birds and animals, which are simple and clumsy yet active. Stationery has gradually evolved through the Warring States, Qin, and Han dynasties, and the inkstone has gradually evolved from a variety of grinding functions to one specifically for writing, completing its transition from a grinder to an inkstone for writing.
In the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, the porcelain industry gradually developed, and porcelain inkstones appeared, mostly celadon inkstones. It is made of porcelain clay and is covered with green glaze. The inkstone is unglazed and the shape is still mostly round with feet. Comparing the porcelain inkstones unearthed during this period, we found that there were raised "berms" around the surface of the inkstone, that is, the Zimukou. The center of the inkstone also develops from flat to a gentle slope in the center. This was also the form of the later Piyong Inkstone.
During the Sui and Tang Dynasties, the technology of making inkstones developed accordingly. The shape of inkstones has evolved from round and simple three-legged ones to circle-footed, multi-legged, and Piyong inkstones. The most famous and outstanding shape is the two-legged dustpan-shaped inkstone. In the early Tang Dynasty, the skip-shaped inkstone was slightly arched on all four sides, which was more rounded and beautiful. In the late Tang Dynasty, it gradually became more elegant and straight, with slightly concave sides. Kei-shaped inkstones have round heads, square round heads, petal heads, etc. They are also made of stone, pottery, or porcelain. Stone inkstones experienced outstanding development in the Tang Dynasty, and many unique inkstones appeared in various places, such as: red silk inkstones from Qingzhou, Shandong, Duan inkstones from Zhaoqing, Guangdong, She inkstones from Shezhou, Anhui, Tao inkstones from Taozhou, Gansu, etc. Since the advent of the Tang Dynasty, these high-quality inkstones have dominated the inkstone forest, laying the material foundation for China's famous inkstones. They have endured for thousands of years and still have great vitality today.
The shape of inkstones in the Song and Yuan Dynasties was basically the continuation and evolution of the shapes in the Tang Dynasty. The general trend was towards practicality. From the Tang Dynasty, the Five Dynasties to the Song Dynasty, the shape of inkstones appeared to be light and stable, which was called Chaoshou inkstone. From the appearance of the inkstone to the treatment of the ink hall, to the digging of the back of the inkstone, the production is exquisite, the line processing is smooth, and the shape is generous and steady, which reflects the craftsmanship and artistic style of this period. At this time, the shape of the inkstone, the inkstone pool and the inkstone platform have been clearly separated.
The Ming and Qing Dynasties were an important historical stage when inkstone became a kind of arts and crafts. During this period, the variety of inkstones increased in terms of inkstone-making technology. Some materials that were not suitable for grinding, such as jade, ivory, and other materials, were also selected as inkstone materials. This was purely due to the needs of arts and crafts. The content represented has also become more and more extensive, encompassing all things in the world. The shape of the inkstone has also changed from the simple and practical form of the previous generation. According to the requirements of the decoration, the carving technique is delicate and skillful, from simple to luxurious, simple to complicated, and increasingly to In the later period, it became more and more serious, and the carving was done to the best of its ability. The practicality of inkstones has been completely replaced by artistry, appreciation and display, reaching the state of pursuit of exquisite materials, fine art and craftsmanship.
Based on the different raw materials for making inkstones, since the Han Dynasty, inkstones have been called stone inkstones, jade inkstones, pottery inkstones, porcelain inkstones, tile inkstones, mud inkstones, and metal inkstones such as copper, iron, and silver. Law. But from a practical point of view, there are generally only two categories: tile inkstones and stone inkstones. According to different production methods, tile inkstones are divided into two types: clear mud inkstones and brick and tile inkstones; stone inkstones are further divided into Duan inkstones, She inkstones, Wujin inkstones, Lingshi inkstones, Kaishi inkstones, Dagu stone inkstones and Shenzhou stone inkstones according to their origin. There are more than ten varieties including inkstone, Xishi inkstone, Tao stone inkstone and purple stone inkstone.