Production techniques of Jinxing inkstone

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: Jinxing inkstone making skills

Applicant: Xingzi County, Jiangxi Province

Project No.: 426

Project No.: VIII - 76

Time of publication: 2006 (the first batch)

Category: traditional art

Region: Jiangxi Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Xingzi County, Jiangxi Province

Protected by: Lushan Cultural Center

Brief introduction to the production technology of Jinxing inkstone:

Applicant: Xingzi County, Jiangxi Province

Jinxing inkstone, also known as Jinxing song inkstone, takes Jinxing stone as raw material. Its main production area is at the foot of Tuoling mountain, Hengtang Town, Xingzi County, Jiangxi Province. According to folk legend, the first Jinxing inkstone was made by Tao Yuanming of Jin Dynasty, and it is also recorded in the history of inkstone by Mi Fu of Northern Song Dynasty. In the Ming Dynasty, Xingzi's inkstone production declined for a time, but it was gradually revived in the middle of the Qing Dynasty. During the period of the Republic of China, there were more than 100 inkstone workshops in Xingzi County.

After the founding of the people's Republic of China, two professional inkstone factories have been set up, the design style has been updated, and the inkstone making technology has been reformed. The production of Jinxing inkstone has developed rapidly. From 1980s to 1990s, Jinxing inkstone won awards in national exhibitions and competitions. Its products are exported to Japan, South Korea, Southeast Asia, Europe and America. At the end of the 1990s, with the reform of state-owned enterprises, there are nearly 100 private enterprises and self-employed enterprises in Xingzi County.

Jinxing inkstone is made from Song stone produced in Tuoling, Xingzi County. It is rare and precious. The stone is tough and delicate, warm and clean. The texture is meticulous, and the color and texture have natural beauty. After being made into inkstone, the ink is very fast, and the water storage is not dry. After being polished for a long time, the ink is rich in luster. From the beginning of production to the completion of production, Jinxing inkstone has five procedures: mining, material selection, blank making, carving, polishing and polishing. The traditional Jinxing inkstone's modeling and decoration are very regional because they are based on local products, mountains and rivers, and cultural legends. The style is simple and generous, simple and freehand. It is a treasure of Chinese folk art.

In recent years, due to the over exploitation of Jinxing song stone, the lack of skills of practitioners, and the confusion of stone and inkstone products, the reputation of traditional skills has been damaged, and the inheritance and development of traditional skills has also been greatly affected.