How to Grind Ink Effectively for Practicing Chinese Calligraphy (part 1)

Grinding an ink stick on the inkstone is an indispensable process to be good at Chinese calligraphy and painting. The famous Chinese calligrapher, painter, and connoisseur, Wu Fu-Fan ( 吴湖帆 ) always ground ink himself when doing masterpieces of calligraphy and painting. He would not let others to grind ink for him ( http://www.hb.xinhuanet.com/art/2007-01/09/content_9000363.htm ). Many master Chinese calligraphers and painters declare that grinding ink on the inkstone is a good opportunity to learn the spirits of the brush strokes by controlling the densities of their ground ink which, in turn, will affect many technical and aesthetical issues and details of Chinese calligraphy and painting. One of the best way to enjoy practicing those arts is learn to how to grind ink on the inkstone first without wasting time and material since ink is considered the blood and spirit of the brush strokes.

Those who have not known to grind ink and practiced properly and effectively sometimes say "人磨墨, 墨磨人 (A man grinds ink stick, but the ink grinds "tortures 折磨" the man.)"

If we know many of the proper ways and tips to grind ink, we find practicing Chinese calligraphy and painting a lot of easier and enjoyable and faster progress may be obtained.

More hints: http://www.art-virtue.com/principles/p7-paper-ink-stone.htm

磨墨機 / 磨墨机 (automatic grinding ink machine) may be found by Googling.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• Chinese
• calligraphy
• grind
• ink
• inkstone
• stone
• 人磨墨墨磨人
• 人磨墨
• 墨磨人
• 磨墨机
• 吴湖帆

[Qiumeihua]

the techniques used with this video are very concise and great. also I was amazed by the automatic ink grinder machine.

[artvirtue]

@Qiumeihua Thank you. The ground ink is the soul of brush work.

[jishuenkam]

do the inksticks still cost $20? if they are still sold at this level that would be a really good deal. they are really good inksticks. i look them up at taobao and they cost close to 100RMB.

[artvirtue]

@jishuenkam I am not sure if Robert still sells that 曹素功 敏楠氏 at that price.

I noticed that taobao has higher prices than those stores in Dallas, but lower prices than most online stores outside China.

[jishuenkam]

@artvirtue you mean robert actually sells the stuff cheaper than taobao? i look up for some She Inkstones at taobao and really want to have one cheap and decent inkstone and one other higher quality inkstone which cost like at least 240RMB to more than 1000RMB. I am definitely looking for them, if you have the price quote (Robert's one) i definitely appreciate it ;)

[artvirtue]

@jishuenkam Robert of e-Bay forbiddencity2008 adopts a "cost leadership" strategy. He made purchases in warehouse quantities from the manufactures for future retail or wholesale. Indeed I found something he sells cheaper than in China. But you have to look for different resources before making a decision or conclusion. Robert's new cargo of Duan inkstones will arrive in about two weeks. Most of them are in the US$40 to $200 range.

[artvirtue]

Thank you for sharing your experience.

[sotto2]

I do not find it necessary to press hard at all when grinding ink. It's easier on the stone with less likelihood of scratching it if there's grit in the inkstick, and it's easier on the arm. I barely apply any pressure at all to the inkstick on the stone and I find I get nice fine thick ink in less than a few minutes.

[artvirtue]

Sorry I am not an expert of Japanese.

[richard2mitchell]

how can i learn jap?