It occurs to me that we pick things up and use them on a daily basis, yet we almost never think about how they have come to us. So, in that spirit, let's explore ink.
The earliest inks from all civilisations are believed to have been made with lampblack, a kind of soot, as this would have been easily collected as a by-product of fire. The lampblack was ground with a solution of glue or gums, molded into sticks, and allowed to dry. Before use, the sticks were mixed with water.
Chinese inks may go back as far as four thousand years, to the Chinese Neolithic Period. Then they used plants, animal, and mineral inks, based on such materials as graphite, that were ground with water and applied with ink brushes. Direct evidence for the earliest Chinese inks, similar to modern inksticks, is around 256 BC in the end of the Warring States period and produced from soot and animal glue. The best inks for drawing or painting on paper or silk are produced from the resin of the pine tree. They must be between 50 and 100 years old. The Chinese inkstick is produced with a fish glue, whereas Japanese glue (膠 nikawa) is from cow or stag - hence the very strong (but to me wonderful) smell.
India ink was invented in China, though materials were often traded from India, hence the name. The traditional Chinese method of making the ink was to grind a mixture of hide glue, carbon black, lampblack, and bone black pigment with a pestle and mortar, then pour it into a ceramic dish to dry. To use the dry mixture, a wet brush would be applied until it reliquified. The manufacture of India ink was well-established by the Cao Wei dynasty (220–265 AD).
Traditional Japanese calligraphy ink, referred to as sumi ink, comes in a solid form. It takes at least four years of production before these ink sticks can be sold, and even longer for the most expensive ones. A 200-gram high-grade ink stick from a producer like Kobaien costs arounds £1,000. And at some other retailers, prices can reach almost £2,000.
But, at the end of the day, all ink is Chinese and if you’ve ever seen how the Chinese make it you’ll understand that’s it’s one of the many, many reasons I sit listening in awe at the feet of the Chinese people.
It’s beautiful to behold. I've attached two YouTube videos of Chinese and Japanese ink makers for you to see for yourselves. Let me know what you think.
Comments