Hui ink making skills (Cao Sugong's ink ingot making skills)

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Hui ink making technique (Cao Sugong's ink ingot making technique)

Applicant: Huangpu District, Shanghai

Project No.: 423

Project No.: VIII - 73

Time of publication: 2011 (the third batch)

Category: traditional art

Region: Shanghai

Type: Extension Project

Applicant: Huangpu District, Shanghai

Protection unit: Shanghai zhouhuchen Cao Sugong pen and Ink Co., Ltd

Brief introduction of Hui ink making technique (Cao Sugong's ink ingot making technique)

Applicant: Huangpu District, Shanghai

In 1667, Cao Sugong established Cao Sugong MoZhuang in Yansi Town, she County, Anhui Province. Its ink making techniques include refining tobacco, mixing materials, ink making, mold carving, turning and airing, and gold drawing, which have been handed down for more than 300 years.

In 1864, Cao Sugong moved from Suzhou to Shanghai. Under the influence of Shanghai metropolitan environment and Shanghai style culture, Cao Sugong's ink ingot making technology began to innovate and developed into a Shanghai style ink making technology. Since the ninth generation of sun Cao Duanyou, he has been making ink for the famous maritime painters and calligraphers, and the painters and calligraphers have also participated in the design of drawings. As the engraving of the ink model has become a second artistic creation, the artistic style of the ink surface is synchronized with the Shanghai style calligraphy and painting, and the Shanghai style Hui ink emerges as the times require. In 1958, Hu Kaiwen, Zhan Dayou, Cha ermiaotang, etc. of Shanghai ink making industry were returned to Cao Sugong's family. Cao Sugong became the representative of contemporary "Shanghai style Hui ink".

Cao Sugong's ink ingot making technique is a precious intangible cultural heritage. However, due to the decrease of old artists and lack of successors, the erosion of production tools (especially the old ink molds in Ming and Qing Dynasties) and the shortage of raw materials, the ink ingot market consumption group decreased and gradually declined. Cao Sugong's technique of making ink ingots is in danger of being lost. The existing rare ink molds in Ming and Qing Dynasties are in urgent need of rescue and protection.