Banryuhai Hakkaku Kyou inkstick ( 槃龍背八角鏡 )

A wonderful ink stick made from the smoke of the finest canola oil with ultra-fine particles.

In Japan, there is a building called Shosoin, which was built in the first half of the Nara period (about 700 CE ) to preserve national treasures.

This inkstick was made by imitating an ancient mirror, Banryuhai Hakkaku Kyou  ( 槃龍背八角鏡 ),  housed in this Shosoin.

This is one of three mirrors with the Yi bagua pattern represented on the back of the mirror. The back edge of the mirror is marked with a bagua pattern. Two dragons, a mountain, and a tortoise are represented on the back, wishing for long-lasting development and prosperity.

Research article on this mirror (Japanese)

The surface of this sumi inkstick is processed with Kobaien's special technique so that it shines like a mirror.

Width: 80 mm Length: 80 mm Thickness: 12 mm Weight:77 grams ( inkstick only ), 141.9 grams ( inclucing paulownia wood box )

槃 ( Ban: Board ) 

龍 ( Ryu: Dragon )

背 ( Hai: Back ) 

八 ( Hachi: Eight ) 

角 ( Kaku: Direction ) 

鏡 ( Kyou: Mirror )