Inkstone making technique (Yishui inkstone making technique)

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: inkstone making technique (Yishui inkstone making technique)

Applicant: Yi County, Hebei Province

Item No.: 916

Project No.: VIII - 133

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: traditional art

Region: Hebei Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Yi County, Hebei Province

Protection unit: Hebei Yishui inkstone Co., Ltd

Introduction to inkstone making technology (Yishui inkstone making technology)

Applicant: Yi County, Hebei Province

Yishui inkstone is a famous handicraft in Yixian County, Hebei Province. It is named after Yishui which flows through the producing area. The production of Yishui inkstone began in the Warring States period, flourished in the Tang and Song Dynasties, and gradually matured in the Ming Dynasty. At that time, the connoisseurs gave a very high evaluation to Yishui inkstone. They thought that "the firmness of quality, the smoothness of carving, the brilliance of color, the coolness of sound, the massiness of body and the integrity of collection are the first among inkstones.". For thousands of years, Yishui inkstone has been valued by the world for its natural superior material and unique artistic style.

Yishui inkstone is made from the water rock of Xiyu mountain in Taihang mountain area. Some of them are soft purple gray, some are dotted with natural green or light yellow stripes, and others are dark purple and green, commonly known as "zicui stone" and "Yudai stone". The surface of the stone is glossy, fine and smooth as jade, which is most suitable for making inkstones. The production of Yishui inkstone is shaped by materials, so it's natural that it has fine knife technique and vivid patterns. After obtaining the stone, inkstone makers used traditional relief techniques to carve figures, flowers, dragons and phoenixes, birds and insects, etc. The common patterns are Erlong Xizhu, Jiulong Xifeng, golden turtle xianshou and twelve zodiac animals.

Yishui inkstone is exquisite in workmanship, simple in shape, elegant and generous, with high ornamental and collection value. It is cherished by collectors and has been rated as the national top-grade famous inkstone for many times. From the perspective of application, this inkstone has fine texture, moderate hardness, fast inking, no damage to the pen, and the ink stored in the inkstone pool is moist and not easy to evaporate. It is an ideal creation tool for calligraphers and painters. In recent years, the development of Yishui inkstone production technology is stagnant, which needs to be protected and supported.