Single-sided cicada-shaped hand-held inkstone

Brand Introduction

Yishui inkstone is produced in Yixian County, Hebei (known as Yizhou in ancient times) and ranks among China’s top 10 inkstones. Its crafting techniques were included in the national intangible cultural heritage list in 2008. Its history dates back to the Han dynasty. Passed down for 2,000 years, it incorporates the essence of inkstone-carving arts from northern and southern China, forming a distinctive character and artistic style known as “southern refinement and northern strength.” Yixian County lies in the heart of the Taihang Mountains. Geological deposits formed over hundreds of millions of years have given rise to prized inkstone materials including Yudai stone, Zicui stone, Foshi, Wujin stone, Dongshao stone and Yishui jade. Dense, fine and smooth in texture, it was praised in the Yizhou Gazette as “no less than Duanxi stone” and “fine and hard in texture, excellent for inkstones,” earning it the reputation of “Southern Duan, Northern Yi.” Yishui inkstone carving emphasizes the natural characteristics of the stone, adapting the craft to the material and creating extraordinary works through ingenuity. It employs a range of techniques, including flat carving, three-dimensional carving, openwork carving, relief carving, pierced carving and yin-yang carving, bringing poetry, calligraphy, painting and seal art together within a small space. It both preserves the stone’s natural grain and imbues it with humanistic meaning. From raw stone from the inkstone mountain to refined scholar’s studio objects, Yishui inkstone draws on the spirit of the Yishui landscape and carries the legacy of millennia-old intangible heritage. With craftsmanship, it transforms uncut stone into elegant objects, embodies the character of the literati, continues the Chinese cultural lineage, and captures the essence of Eastern aesthetics and intangible cultural heritage craftsmanship.