Editing Inkstone (section)

== Material and construction ==
Inkstones can be made from a variety of materials, such as ceramics, lacquered wood, glass, or old bricks. However, they are typically made from stones harvested specifically for inkstone-making.<ref name=":2" /> Different stones yield different quality ink; as such, the material of an inkstone is critical to its functionality. Inkstones made from the stones of specific quarries, and from specific caves within those quarries, are highly sought out by collectors.<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite book |last=Ko |first=Dorothy |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1298399895 |title=The social life of inkstones : artisans and scholars in early Qing China |date=2017 |isbn=978-0-295-99919-7 |location=Seattle |pages=88–99 |oclc=1298399895}}</ref>

===Quality of inkstones===
Two types of rock are mainly used to make inkstones:<ref name=Durix/>
* underwater eruptive rocks, such as the famous Chinese ''duānxī'' stone (端溪), in Japanese ''tankei'' 端渓 ;
* [[sedimentary rock]]s such as ''shexian'' stone, in Japanese ''kyūjū'' 歙州.

The ink stone consists of a flat part called the “hill” (''qiū'' [丘] or ''gāng'' [冈]; ''oka'' [丘] or [岡] in Japanese), and a hollow part “the sea”, ''hǎi'', 海 (''umi'' in Japanese) intended to collect the ink created.

An ink stone is most appreciated for the grain, texture or even sound it produces when the [[Ink stick]] is rubbed against it in a circular motion:
{{blockquote|If you strike the stone hanging on a hook, with a sharp blow with your finger, it should make a beautiful clear sound.” And also: “A good stone is distinguished first and foremost by the fineness and regularity of its grain. It has a softness and mellowness that you feel when you caress it with the palm of your hand. It has a satin sheen. Thanks to these qualities, it picks up the ink as the stick passes over it, accelerating the grinding process and producing fine, dense ink. An infinitesimal part of its grain is also said to pass into the ink, giving it a superior patina.  On a stone that is too hard, the stick is not grasped but pushed away, it slips; the grinding is done irregularly and the ink is less beautiful...|J.-F. Billeter<ref>J.-F. Billeter, in Claude Durix, ''Écrire l'éternité. L'art de la calligraphie chinoise et japonaise'', see bibliography.</ref>}}

The best stones have always come from Chinese quarries on the south bank of the [[Xi (river)|Xijiang]] in [[Guangdong]]. But quarrying these stones was dangerous and strenuous, as they were usually found in caves particularly hard hit by violent floods. Even today, many mines are still in operation, and the oldest stones over a hundred years old, also known as ''guyàn'' ''/ ko-ken'' (古硯), are much more sought-after than the newer ones known as ''xinyàn / shin-ken'' (新硯). Some regions of Japan also produce good quality stones.<ref name=Durix/>

A beginner can use very simple stones, which can later be upgraded to higher-quality ink stones as they progress.

===Four Famous Inkstones===
Four kinds of Chinese inkstones are especially noted in inkstone art history and are popularly known as the "Four Famous Inkstones".

#'''Duan inkstones''' ({{zh|s=端砚|t=端硯|p=Duānyàn}}) are produced in [[Zhaoqing]], [[Guangdong Province]], and got its name from [[Duan Prefecture]] that governed the city during the [[Tang dynasty]].<ref name="zhangwei-duan"/> Duan stone is a volcanic [[tuff]], commonly of a purple to a purple-red color. There are various distinctive markings, due to various rock materials imbedded in the stone, that create unique designs and [[Inclusion (mineral)|stone eyes (inclusions)]] which were traditionally valued in China.<ref name="zhangwei-duan">{{cite book|last=Zhang|first=Wei|title=The four treasures: inside the scholar's studio|year=2004|publisher=Long River Press|location=San Francisco|isbn=1-59265-015-5|pages=39–41|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qrQ0tSPve8EC}}</ref> A green variety of the stone was mined in the Song dynasty. Duan inkstones are carefully categorized by the mines (k'eng) from which the raw stone was excavated. Particular mines were open only for discrete periods in history. For example, the Mazukeng mine was originally opened in the Qianlong reign (1736–1795), although reopened in modern times.
#'''She inkstones''' ({{zh|s=歙砚|t=歙硯|p=Shèyàn}}) come from [[She County, Anhui|She County]] ([[Anhui Province]]) and [[Wuyuan County, Jiangxi|Wuyuan County]] ([[Jiangxi Province]]). Both counties were under jurisdiction of the ancient She Prefecture of [[Huizhou (region)|Huizhou]] during the Tang dynasty when the She inkstone was first made. This stone is a variety of slate and like Duan stone is categorized by the various mines from which the stone was obtained historically. It has a black color and also displays a variety of gold-like markings.<ref name="zhangwei-she" /> She inkstones were first used during the [[Tang dynasty]].<ref name="zhangwei-she">{{cite book|last=Zhang|first=Wei|title=The four treasures: inside the scholar's studio|year=2004|publisher=Long River Press|location=San Francisco|isbn=1-59265-015-5|pages=48–49|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qrQ0tSPve8EC}}</ref>
#'''Tao(he) inkstones''' ({{zh|s=洮(河)砚|t=洮(河)硯|p=Táo(hé)yàn}}) are made from the stones found at the bottom of the [[Tao River]] in [[Gansu Province]].<ref name=":0">{{cite web|title=Gansu Tao Inkstone|url=http://www.chinaculture.org/library/2008-01/08/content_21884.htm|work=chinaculture.org|publisher=Ministry of Culture, P.R.China|access-date=3 November 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140324142350/http://www.chinaculture.org/library/2008-01/08/content_21884.htm|archive-date=24 March 2014}}</ref> These inkstones were first used during the [[Song dynasty]] and became rapidly desired.<ref name="zhangwei-taohe"/> It bears distinct markings such as bands of ripples with varying shades.<ref name="zhangwei-taohe">{{cite book|last=Zhang|first=Wei|title=The four treasures: inside the scholar's studio|year=2004|publisher=Long River Press|location=San Francisco|isbn=1-59265-015-5|pages=49–52|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=qrQ0tSPve8EC}}</ref> The stone is crystalline and looks like jade. These stones have become increasingly rare and are difficult to find. It can easily be confused with a green Duan stone, but can be distinguished by its crystalline nature.
#'''Chengni inkstones''' ({{zh|s=澄泥砚|t=澄泥硯|p=Chéngníyàn}}) are ceramic-manufactured inkstones. This process began in the Tang dynasty and is said to have originated in [[Luoyang]], [[Henan]].