1. Yishui Inkstone
The process of making Yishui Inkstone mainly consists of seven steps: material selection, blank making, design, engraving, polishing, waxing and brightening.
Select materials. Gently tap the picked stone with an iron chisel. If the stone sounds like copper, it is of the highest grade. If the stone sounds like a tile, it is of high grade. If the stone sounds like a tile, it is of stone disease and is not suitable for cutting inkstones. The hardness of the inkstone should be moderate. The difference between the cross-section hardness and the surface hardness should not be greater than one level. The various minerals that make up the inkstone surface decoration and the basic hardness of the inkstone surface should not exceed level 5. The selected stones are washed with water and entered into the next process.
Preparation of blanks. It is divided into two steps: sawing the blank and grinding the blank. The stones after drawing the lines are divided into three types: round, square and irregular. When sawing, make sure the cross section is perpendicular to the inkstone surface. For an inkstone with a cover, the sawed inkstone cover must first be shaped into a round, square, or random shape with a steel file, and then ground flat on the stone slab with coarse sand. After smoothing, grind with whetstone powder and water, and finally use Its four sides are flat. The inkstone blanks made from mineral veins with no joint cracks or secondary fillings are considered top quality.
Design. Different patterns are assigned to the inkstone according to its size, texture, shape, etc., and the pattern is traced on the inkstone and carved according to the pattern.
Engraving. Sculpture is a kind of artistic creation, similar to calligraphy and painting. The steps are divided into chiseling, flattening, smoothing, and thinning. The knife techniques are divided into flat carving, round carving, shallow carving, micro carving, hollowing, Yin carving and Yang carving, and Yang carving and Yin carving combining hardness and softness. The pattern is well laid out, with alternating density and density.
Polish. After the carving is completed, the inkstone surface and pattern must be polished. First grind the inkstone with fine stone, then grind it with fine sandpaper. You can sprinkle some fine grindstone powder on the pattern part and polish it with a toothbrush, except for cases where knife marks need to be deliberately displayed.
Wax. Wash the carved inkstone with water and put it into the large iron pot that has been arranged. Steam it in boiling water for half an hour to an hour. Depending on the heat, the inkstone is heated through before taking it out. Make sure it is spotless. Then put the beeswax or white wax in the inkstone to melt, then use a brush to evenly brush the entire inkstone body, and wait until the temperature drops until the wax solidifies on the inkstone like paint.
Bright light. Wrap a thin linen cloth around your fingers and rub or rub it on the waxed inkstone. Use your fingers to flexibly control the intensity and rub the brightness of the inkstone to the best effect.
2. Chengni Inkstone
Shaanzhou Chengni Inkstone was a Chengni tribute inkstone from the Tang and Song Dynasties, and was also an important inkstone type during the Ming and Qing Dynasties. The mud inkstone has an extremely complex technological process, with forty-eight major and minor processes, among which three are the most important: mud mud, compaction of the inkstone, and firewood kiln heating.
Among these forty-eight processing steps, the first step is "clear mud". The mud used to make clear mud inkstones is taken from Huoshao Yanggou in Shaanzhou, because the mud here is extremely fine and contains few impurities. The retrieved clay blocks are dried in the wind and sun for two or three years, pounded into powder with a hammer, and impurities are removed with a sieve.
From a handful of mixed soil to a ball of "mushy" fine mud, I don't know how many times it has to be kneaded and beaten before it can be used. During the processing of the mud inkstone, especially the details, there is no room for sloppiness. . A ball of fine mud with good texture is the foundation and key to making a clear mud inkstone. A piece of soil has been basically shaped after Mr. Wang Chi's repeated beating. It looks smooth, delicate and sticky from the outside.
Really good clay has a fine texture, as oily and smooth as a baby's skin. The inkstone made from it can store water without drying up, endure cold weather, be shiny and moist, and produce ink without any damage. Only this kind of clay fired product looks like jade and strikes like a bell.
The production of Chengni inkstone is divided into two types: manual kneading and mold forming. As far as mold forming is concerned, according to the size of the finished product to be processed, use a steel wire to cut the required mud blocks from the square mud block.
Put the mud blocks cut from the steel wire on the wooden board, and use a smooth wooden stick to repeatedly crush the mud blocks into mud cakes. When the thickness of the mud cakes reaches the required requirements, it is ready. stop. Put the mud cake of even thickness into the mold, and keep pressing the mud cake with both hands so that it fully contacts the mold without leaving any gaps. Flip the mold that has just compacted the inkstone blank onto the wooden board, and use a steel wire to cut off the useless excess part at the bottom.
After cutting off the excess part with the steel wire, press it repeatedly with your hands to ensure uniform strength to make the inside of the inkstone smooth and delicate without cracks.
This step may seem simple, but it is an important part of the three most important links. If there is a gap between the inkstone and the mold, the fired inkstone will often have cracks or a rough appearance and become a waste product.
After compaction, slowly remove the formed inkstone from the mold by hand. This process requires patience and avoid using excessive force. In the process of removing the inkstone blank from the mold, we can see the importance of beating and kneading the mud initially. If the mud is too soft, the inkstone blank cannot be taken out. If the mud is too hard, the inkstone blank will be easily broken when taken out.
The inkstone taken out from the mold should be placed in a cool place to dry. When the inkstone is semi-dry, a sharp knife should be used to cut and trim the bottom of the inkstone to ensure the perfection of the process. . Smaller inkstones need to be dried in the shade for half a month, and larger inkstones even need to be dried in the shade for a month. During the drying period, they must not be exposed to the sun.
The finished and dried inkstone is placed in the sun for a while, then placed in a wood-fired kiln and roasted for seven or eight days before being released from the kiln. The color of the Chengni Inkstone comes from the kiln. The ancients regarded black as the most beautiful, and often called it "Chok Kiln", which means blackened. The firing process of the black Chengni Inkstone is particularly complicated.
The temperature of the wood-fired kiln is controlled at about 1000 degrees. The colors produced by the kiln at different temperatures are also different. Common colors of Shaanzhou Chengni Inkstone include cinnabar red, eel yellow, mung bean sand, and sandalwood. purple. Controlling the heat during the firing process of Chengni inkstone is the most critical, among which cinnabar red and eel yellow are the most valuable.
The last process of Shaanzhou Chengni Inkstone is Qin wax. The wax used here is not the common wax in our lives, but the wax on honey. One of the functions of Qinwax is to make the appearance of the inkstone shiny and beautiful, and secondly, it can make the inkstone less likely to seep water, so as to protect the ink without damaging it.
Chengni inkstone has a unique shape, and its styles include "Jin Chan Inkstone", "Fuhu Inkstone", "Wo Niu Inkstone", "Lotus Leaf Inkstone" and so on. Chengni inkstone is one of the four famous inkstones in history. It is as famous as Duan inkstone, Xin inkstone and Tao inkstone. It was listed as a tribute by the imperial palace. It is the only inkstone among the four famous inkstones made of clay.
3. Tao Inkstone
The production process of Tao Inkstone is relatively complicated. The main procedures include quarrying, material selection, design, material dimensioning, rough making, carving, capping, and polishing. Cooperation etc.
1 adopted. Mining inkstone is an important part of Tao inkstone production. There are different types of inkstones, good and bad. Inkstones with good quality from old pits, and inkstone making is higher than production, can produce high-quality products and treasures. Whether Tao inkstone is valuable or not, the most basic condition lies in the inkstone, so it is most important to adopt this process.
The tools used by quarry workers should be adapted to local conditions. Tao inkstones vary according to their composition and thickness. Chisels are the main type, and they are also divided into pointed chisels and flat chisels. These tools come in different lengths, sizes, and thicknesses, but each stoneworker must prepare thirty or forty tools. Repair and sharpen after work every day.
Dimensional material, also known as material selection. Not all the mined inkstones can be used as inkstone materials. After screening, they are divided into grades.
The ones that are particularly good, pure and flawless are classified as special grade, the ones that are slightly inferior are grade A, and the third grade is grade B. Remove all those with defects, cracks, rotten stones, and stone skin, and leave the rest. It is the "stone meat", which can predict the direction of the stone pattern and cut out the large shapes of the inkstone, such as natural shape, egg shape, rectangle, square, circle, golden bell shape, Lanting style, Taishi style, etc.
The chisel maker must also know how to look at the stone, because the best place of the inkstone must be reserved as the inkstone. The quality of the inkstone in the inkstone will be evaluated based on the quality of the inkstone in the inkstone. Patterns are also placed in the ink hall.
Design. The design of Tao inkstone is an extremely important process in the production process of Tao inkstone. To turn a natural and simple inkstone into an exquisite work requires careful conception, not only considering the subject matter, but also retaining the inkstone. Proper design is the icing on the cake. Improper design will be superfluous and even self-defeating. Therefore, sculptors The inkstone and chisel should be used according to the material and the composition of the stone.
Engraving. What carving techniques and knife techniques are used to carve Tao inkstones depend on the subject matter and the shape and style of the inkstone. If you want to express vigorous and bold style, you should mainly use deep knife carving, with appropriate interspersed shallow knife carving and fine carving; if you want to express delicacy, simplicity, delicacy and subtlety, you should mainly use shallow knife carving, line carving and fine carving.
In short, both fine carving and line carving belong to the "fine craftsmanship" part of "fine craftsmanship". Fine carving requires carving to be fine, accurate, and vivid, while line carving requires delicate, graceful, smooth lines, and complex carving. Not cluttered, and appropriately complex and simple.
Covered. The tradition of Tao inkstone is to have a hollow cover and a cover of the same color on the finished inkstone to prevent the stored ink from dispersing and keep it useful for a long time.
Polished. The process of polishing the inkstone is to complete the carving. First, use oilstone and fine river sand to grind it roughly to remove the chisel and knife path. Then, use talc and fine sandpaper, preferably 1,000-grit water sandpaper, to repeatedly polish it to make the inkstone Until the hand feels smooth, the final step is to "soak the stone in water" and then wipe it dry; the quality of the inkstone will directly affect the quality and use effect of the inkstone.
Extended information
Storage method
First of all, avoid light: if the inkstone is placed on the desk in front of the window, avoid direct sunlight, otherwise the inkstone will appear dry. Inkstone boxes are prone to drying out if exposed to the sun for a long time. When playing with the inkstone, it is best to cover it with felt on the table. The inkstone should not come into contact with metal, glass and other utensils, and the inkstone should not be placed on top of each other to prevent damage. When applying wax to the inkstone, some people apply wax all over the body of the inkstone, some also apply vegetable oil, and some even apply foam ink, thinking that it can nourish the inkstone, but these practices are not appropriate.
Wax can be applied around the inkstone, and the bottom should be thin and moderate. It is most taboo to apply wax on the ink-grinding part of the inkstone; it is also inappropriate to apply vegetable oil on the inkstone, because vegetable oil is a slow-drying grease that will not affect the surface of the inkstone. Oil attracts dust, making the inkstone dirty, emitting a strange smell or causing mildew. When maintaining the inkstone box, it should be waxed frequently to maintain the luster of the inkstone box and prevent moisture from intruding.
If the inkstone box shrinks and the inkstone body cannot be placed, you can use sandpaper to polish the inside of the inkstone box to make it wider and easier to place. If the ancient inkstone box is broken or damaged, the ancient inkstone box can be collected by placing a box outside the box.
Baidu Encyclopedia-Inkstone Production Technique
Baidu Encyclopedia-Inkstone