The inkstone is a tool for grinding ink.
The pinyin of inkstone: yàn tai, part of speech: noun, font structure: inkstone has a left-right structure, and platform has an up-and-down structure, referring to ink-polished stationery. The inkstone is one of the traditional Chinese handicrafts. Together with the pen, ink, and paper, it is known as the four treasures of the traditional Chinese study. It is an essential tool for Chinese calligraphy.
The inkstone developed along with the development of pen and ink. The earliest inkstone that appeared was the stone inkstone. In the Han Dynasty, artificial ink was invented, and the ink could be ground directly on the inkstone, so inkstones began to develop. Copper inkstones, pottery inkstones, silver inkstones, Xu Gong inkstones, wooden lacquered sand inkstones, etc., the most prominent ones from the Six Dynasties to the Sui Dynasty were The emergence of porcelain inkstone.
The Tang Dynasty was an important development period for inkstones. Two major inkstone materials, Duanshi and Sheshi, appeared. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the materials for making inkstones were more abundant, and tile inkstones, iron inkstones, tin inkstones, and jade inkstones appeared. , ivory inkstone, bamboo inkstone, etc.
There is no conclusive conclusion as to when the study of wooden inkstones began, but it was mostly in the Qing Dynasty. Due to its limited nature, wood is not actually suitable for making inkstones. However, the romance of literati combined this bold attempt with the ingenuity of craftsmen, leaving us with many exquisite study furnishings.
Citations and explanations
1. "Couple of Medicinal Names" by Pi Rixiu, Zhang Bi and others of the Tang Dynasty: "The rat crows at the bookstore, and the snail climbs up the inkstone."
< p>2. "Yangchun Song" by Yao Sui of the Yuan Dynasty: "The ink is polished on the Oolong horn of the North Sea, the pen is dipped in the purple rabbit hair of the Nanshan Mountain, and the flower paper is spread out on the inkstone."3. Shen Fu of the Qing Dynasty, "Floating Life Six" Notes: "Bumps and Sorrows": "In addition to my luggage, I found several books, inkstones, and pen holders left by my father."