Duan Inkstones

    Duan inkstones originated in the mountains by the Duanxi River in Guangdong Province. Since the Tang Dynasty this area has been a major inkstone manufacturer, and even today, most of the villagers still earn their living by making inkstones.

    Purple in color, Duan inkstones are glossy and as smooth as silk. They enjoy a great reputation as they never crack even in deeply cold temperatures. It is a long and laborious process to forage for flawless Duan stones. Miners dig tunnels less than one meter high at the riverside, in which they squat, sit or lie down and scrounge for eligible slates.

    Similar to She inkstones, Duan inkstones often have beautiful veins formed by powerful natural events. Inkstones with patterns that look like an eye or a cracking ice surface are highly desirable and selected for the most delicate craftmanship.  

    A set of inkstones often contains a grinder and a lid. Lids for the Duan inkstones are usually made of sandalwood or rosewood so that the purple color will match the stone itself.

    In addition to natural designs, craftsmen often engrave the images of dragons, flowers, birds, mountains and rivers on the slabs, making the inkstones more intriguing and elaborate.

Tao Inkstones

    Tao inkstones produced in Gansu Province stand out for their emerald-like sheen. The stones are excavated from the Taohe River and became famous as early as in the Song Dynasty.

    Tao inkstones can be divided into four types according to color. Duck Head Green is the best in quality and texture; Parrot Green has a darker hue and smoothier surface; Willow Leaf Green is speckled with natural red dots while Light Green has a comparatively dense texture.

    A Tao inkstone is not only a grindstone favored by painters and calligraphers, but considered a work with great artistic value. When Hong Kong was returned to China in 1997, the Gansu provincial government made a present of a Tao inkstone to the government of the Special Administrative Region.

Chengni Inkstones

    Chengni inkstones are significantly different from the other three kinds, being a kind of pottery. Instead of hard stone, Chengni inkstones are made of silt from the Yellow River, a specialty produced in the provinces along the river like Shanxi and Henan. Their history can be dated back to the Tang Dynasty.

    The major steps in the making of a Chengni inkstone are material selection, filtering, molding, carving, firing and polishing.

    The mud is first filtered and dried. Craftsmen then form the mud into different shapes and carve into its surface decorative cultural symbols like the dragon and phoenix or Chinese characters with auspicious meanings such as happiness, longevity and good fortune. After that, the mud is fired in a kiln. Adjusting the temperature during firing produces inkstones of different colors. Inkstones in the dark brown of eel skin, the dark green of crab shell or the light green of pea puree are considered the best.

    In 2006, 2007 and 2008, Chengni inkstones produced in Xinjiang County, Shanxi Province were given the Excellent Handicrafts award by the United Nations.

    As material for inkstones are non-renewable, a shortage of resources is slowing inkstone production. Today inkstones are becoming a new favorite of collectors. On the market the older the inkstone, the more valuable.

    In 2006, the technique of inkstone production was placed on China's Intangible Cultural Heritage list.