Duan Inkstone making technique

The name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Duan Inkstone making skills

Applicant: Zhaoqing City, Guangdong Province

Project No.: 425

Project No.: VIII - 75

Time of publication: 2006 (the first batch)

Category: traditional art

Region: Guangdong Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Zhaoqing City, Guangdong Province

Protection unit: Zhaoqing Duanyan Association

Duan Inkstone production skills introduction:

Applicant: Zhaoqing City, Guangdong Province

Duanyan originated in Baishi Village and binri village, Huanggang Town, Zhaoqing City, Guangdong Province. Baishi and binri villages are adjacent to each other, and 80% of the villagers have no farmland to cultivate. They have been making a living by quarrying and making inkstones for generations. Now this area is still the core area for making Duan inkstones. Duanxi stone, the raw material of Duan inkstone, is produced in Fuke mountain and Beiling mountain of Lingyang gorge in the eastern suburb of Zhaoqing City.

According to records, Duan inkstone was founded in the early Tang Dynasty and became popular all over the country in the middle of Tang Dynasty. It is famous for its advantages such as wind like ink, oil like ink, no water consumption, no ice, immortality and protection of hair. It is known as the first inkstone in the world. In the development history of more than 1300 years, Duan Inkstone artists constantly sum up experience, adjust measures to local conditions, and form a set of scientific and rigorous production process. The production process of Duan inkstone is very complex, mainly including quarrying, material selection, design, carving, box matching, polishing, waxing and other processes. Most Duanxi stone is not earthquake resistant, so all aspects of Duanxi inkstone production are hand-made.

In the production of Duan inkstone, quarrying is the key. The ancient inkstone pit is about 80 cm high. The quarrymen can only squat, sit or recline to quarrying. The mining tools are often made according to the environment of the stone, while the carving tools are made according to the hardness of the inkstone, the carving skills and the needs of the theme. Before the 1970s, most of these tools were made by quarrymen or inkstone makers. Quarrying tools mainly include sharp iron chisels, iron pens, hammers, gun chisels and lamps of different thickness, while carving tools mainly include hammers, chisels, chisels, wood drills, saws, talc and Gongfu platforms.

Like many traditional handicrafts, Duan Inkstone also has its own industry worship and guild organization. Duan Inkstone artists worship Wu Ding. Every year on the eighth day of the fourth month of the lunar calendar, they hold grand worship activities. Duan Inkstone line is the guild organization of Duan inkstone, artists are qualified to make Duan inkstone.

Duan inkstone has a high artistic value, collection value and humanistic value. Under the new historical conditions, mechanical production is impacting the manual production of Duan inkstone. The traditional memory inheritance leads to the lack of successors. Only by seriously solving these problems can we effectively protect and continue the traditional Duan Inkstone production skills.