In the misty mountains of Shexian County, Anhui Province, artisans keep alive a 1,200-year-old tradition: crafting Hui ink and She inkstones, two pillars of China's revered Four Treasures of Study. These tools, essential to classical calligraphy and painting, embody a cultural legacy that continues to shape China's artistic identity.
Hui ink, made from pine soot and glue blended with rare herbs and musk, undergoes over 20 meticulous steps. Master craftsmen pound the mixture into dough-like consistency, a process requiring days of rhythmic labor. “Each batch tells a story,” says third-generation artisan Li Wei. “The ink’s luster improves with age—just like our appreciation for tradition.”
Complementing the ink are She inkstones, carved from volcanic rock in neighboring Huangshan. Their fine-grained surfaces grind ink sticks into velvety pigment while resisting evaporation. Recent innovations, like compact travel inkstones, have sparked interest among global artists and collectors, blending utility with heritage.
Economic analysts note growing demand for premium Hui ink, with exports rising 15% annually. Meanwhile, Shexian County has become a cultural tourism hotspot, attracting 500,000 visitors yearly to its ink-themed workshops and museums.
For scholars, these crafts offer a window into China’s intellectual history. “The inkstone’s design reflects Confucian ideals of harmony between nature and human skill,” explains Beijing University art historian Dr. Zhang Ming.
