Ink stone
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An ink stone (Traditional Chinese: 硯臺, Simplified Chinese: 砚台, pinyin: yàn tái) is a mill for the grinding of and a container for ink. Ink is usually solidified for easier transport and for preservation, therefore, a small amount of water would be applied to the end of a stick of ink, and that end would be ground with the flat surface of the ink stone.
The ink stone is Chinese in origin and is used in Chinese calligraphy and painting, and other forms of brush painting which originated from it.
For serious Chinese calligraphers and painters, a good ink stone is very important as the quality of the ink stone will affect the quality and texture of the ink that is ground upon it. Four kinds of ink stones have stratified positions within the art and are reputed as the "Four Famous Ink Stones". In no particular order they are:
- Duanshi Yan (端石砚) from Duanxi, Guangdong (pictured at top)
- She Yan (歙砚) from She County, Anhui
- Tao River Yan (洮河砚) from South Gansu
- Chengni Yan (澄泥砚) from Luoyang, Henan
Together with the ink brush, ink(stick) and paper, the four writing implements form the Four Treasures of the Study.
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