Chinese Inkstone - Live in China

Duan and She stones are the two most recognized to be the finest stones for inkstones, inherited mostly from Song Dynasty's traditions, while followed by the rarity Tao River stone right after. Before Qing Dynasty, Caosou Inkstone and Suci Inkstone liked by ancients are all rectangular in shape. "Rectangular shaped inkstones are mostly recommended, and better if simple and solemn also," as cited in The Extol of Duan Xi Inkstone by Wu Lan Xiou (吴兰修《端溪砚谱》).

The preference for simple and solemn rectangualr shaped inkstones is not because of ancient scholars' views, as well as other matters.The ancients considered the procession of inkstones being its application, as Mi, Yuan Zang professed "Things are valued for their purposes," which deviates from most reasons of the procession of inkstones now as time has changed. Ancient inkstones all came in wooden cases. Today's inkstones don't have such valuable accessaory. Inscriptions on ancient inkstones were also common and delicate.It is written in The Book of Inkstone (《砚书》) "Much care must be taken when inscribe the inkstone to impart its good quality with the person who processes it." The context and the scripts both need to be superb, with exquisite artistic carving delicacy, before the engraving craftsmanship can be actually applied." It is said that a purple rectangular inkstone made in the Five Dynasties period, with an epigraph "Famous Person" negatively incised on the back, has surfaced. Both the context and the inscription are poorly worked, prudentially, could be described as "ill-behaved ancient paradox."

There were many varieties of ancient inkstones with the differences introduced through times.Wuji in his "The Levy" (伍缉《从征记》) cited "There was an inkstone by the pedant's bed, in a simple and archaic style, that could be one of his belongings." Since this is not recorded and will consume too much efforts to trace back into the history, without an actual beholding, this could not be said a fact." Most of inkstones in Han Dynasty were rounded in shape. Those like so called in The Book of Inkstones (originally written《砚颂》, I use 《砚书》 to be consistent) "Xia Dynasty Three-legged tripod imitates three polar supported constellation." Three legs are equally inclined on the back aligned in a circular fullness." It's very rare to know one not yet damaged and believed to be antiquated." There was winnow shaped inkstones during Tang Dynasty, but failed to be found in Song Dynasty." Inkstones don't come with legged after Tang Dynasty, during which were lower than ones before, not over 5 cm in length. Leges on inkstones from Tang Dynasty, which differ from ones from previous dynasties, not rounded but short and flatended till Song Dynasty, variations in styles, made out of original shapes of the stones with each style beared with its own names over hundreds. Phoenix inkstone close to winnow shaped inkstone in Tang Dynasty, but profiled differenctly form the side. Onward, inkstones were made with decorated stones, delicate carving with more exquisit taste, like Ming, Qing, and modern inkstones, while lacking the simple and solemn expression as ancient rectangular ones.

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