She inkstones are produced in Shezhou, between the Huangshan Mountains, Tianmu Mountain and Baiji Mountain in Anhui Province, including Shexian, Xiuning, Qimen, Yixian, Wuyuan and other counties. The best place for producing She stones is the Xiaxi stream of Longwei Mountain (Luowen Mountain) at the junction of Wuyuan and She County. Therefore, She inkstones are also called Longwei inkstones, and Longwei Mountain is where most of the surviving She inkstones are produced. In addition, She County, Xiuning County and Qimen County also produce She inkstones.
The pattern structure of She inkstone is very prominent, which can be divided into caviar pattern, rib pattern, golden halo pattern, eyebrow pattern, brush silk pattern and other types. Because of its fine mineral particle size and uniform distribution of quartz particles, it has the effect of making the ink thicker, smoother than the brush, and astringent without the stagnation of the pen. It has been praised by calligraphers of the past dynasties.
She inkstone has been praised by literati throughout the ages. Li Yu, the late leader of the Southern Tang Dynasty, said that "She inkstones are the best in the world"; Su Dongpo commented that they are "astringent but do not leave a pen, slippery but do not resist ink, the skin of a melon is smooth, and the golden sound is jade virtue"; Mi Fu said: "The Jinxing Song inkstone, its It is strong and beautiful in quality, creates clouds when breathed, and stores water that will never dry up." In September 2004, the China Light Industry Federation and the China Four Treasures Association awarded She County the honorary title of "Hometown of She Inkstones in China".
Quality characteristics of She Inkstone
She Inkstone has excellent quality, graceful color, smooth and fine texture, and is "hard, moist, soft, healthy, fine, greasy, clean and beautiful" Eight virtues. Tender and hard, the inkstone material has a fine texture and is both hard and moist. It has the characteristics of being astringent but not leaving a mark on the pen, and being slippery but not repelling ink. It makes a sound when pressed, caressed like skin, and sharpened like a sharp edge. It is suitable for producing ink and lasts for a long time. After use, the remaining ink and old dirt on the inkstone will become clear and new when washed in water. It is known as "the crown of stone mountains" and "the famous pearl of the country".
She inkstone has the color of jasper, and has the characteristics of not absorbing water, not repelling ink, not damaging the hair, storing water without drying up, and being easy to wash. It is known as "child's face" and "beautiful skin". The literati and calligraphers and painters of the past dynasties, such as Liu Gongquan, Ouyang Xiu, Su Dongpo, Mi Fu, Cai Xiang, Huang Tingjian, Tang Yin, etc. all regarded She Inkstone as a treasure, and there were many poets who praised She Inkstone.
The great calligrapher Mi Fu praised the She inkstone in "The History of Inkstones" as "the Venus and Song inkstones, which are strong and beautiful in quality, can form clouds when breathed, can store water and never dry up, and the ink on the paper is bright and dazzling, counting Ten years later, the luster is still as good as before.” Ouyang Xiu, a litterateur of the Song Dynasty, also praised the She inkstone in "Inkstone Pu" as "the dragon's tail is far out on the Duan River" and believed that the She inkstone was better than the Duan inkstone. Cai Xiang, a calligrapher of the Song Dynasty, once got a piece of She inkstone and praised it highly: "The quality of jade is pure. The Cangli is refined, and the sharp edge is completely silent. Xiangru still persists in hearing the Tao, and he is willing to play with the Qin people in the fifteen cities."
Reference for the above content: Baidu Encyclopedia-She Yan