Inkstone making technique (Taoyan making technique)

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

Applicant: Zhuoni County, Gansu Province

Item No.: 916

Project No.: VIII - 133

Time of publication: 2008 (second batch)

Category: traditional art

Region: Gansu Province

Type: new item

Applicant: Zhuoni County, Gansu Province

Protection unit: Zhuoni Taoyan Development Association

Brief introduction of inkstone making technique (Taoyan making technique)

Applicant: Zhuoni County, Gansu Province

Gansu Taoyan, namely Taohe green stone inkstone, is one of the famous inkstones in China. Tao inkstone was made in Tang Dynasty and prevailed in song, Ming and Qing Dynasties. It has a history of more than 1300 years. Tao inkstone is green in color and elegant in shape. Its quality is firm and fine. It is as bright as jade. Its ink is fast but not damaged. Its ink is stored for a long time but not dried up. It has long been famous at home and abroad. It is a treasure among the four treasures of the study.

Taohe greenstone is produced in the valley of Lamaya at the junction of Zhuoni County, Lintan county and Min County in the middle reaches of Taohe River in the south of Gansu Province. Taohe ore belt is surrounded by water on three sides. The inkstone is nourished by moist air for many years. The stone is firm, moist and fine. The light green contains dark green stripes, forming a variety of natural textures such as flowing water, clouds, clear ripples and mist. Because the stone is wet, it can be made into beads. The ink is fast and thin, and the ink is bright. The ink in the inkstone is not dry and rotten after the month.

The shape of Tao inkstone is mainly divided into rectangular inkstone and natural inkstone. The inkstone body is composed of inkpool, pool and cover. According to the style, there are two kinds of single inkstone and double inkstone. Inkstones are often decorated with patterns and characters. The most representative traditional patterns are dragon and Phoenix and primitive religious objects.

Tao inkstone is handmade, and its production process generally includes more than ten processes, such as material selection, blank making, air penetration, fine carving, glazing, etc. Carving is mainly through carving and relief, supplemented by line carving, round carving and other techniques. The pattern is elegant and beautiful. Tao inkstone has rich cultural connotation and strong local characteristics, and its art collection value is very high. In recent years, due to the decrease of natural resources and the slow economic development in remote areas, the production technology of Tao inkstone is facing development difficulties, which needs the relevant departments to pay attention to and take practical measures to rescue and protect it.