Chikurin-Shichiken Inkstick ( Brownish black, 竹林七賢 )

Chikurin-Shichiken takes its name from Chiku (竹), bamboo, Rin (林), grove, Shichi (七), seven, and Ken (賢), sages — the Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove, said to have gathered in Henan Province, China, in the late 3rd century AD to play.

Made from top-quality canola oil smoke, it belongs to Kobaien's "Shitsu boku" (漆墨, lacquer black) category, considered the finest of all their sumi inksticks.

At full strength, it settles into a glossy, pure black; thinned into pale washes, it opens into a warm brownish black.

At 70mm wide, 129mm long, 17mm thick, and 200 grams, it's a substantial, serious piece, built for painters and calligraphers working at the highest level.

For anyone drawn to the legend of scholars gathering in a bamboo grove to escape the world and simply create, this is Kobaien's finest expression of that spirit, distilled into ink.

Width 70mm, Length 129mm, Thickness 17mm, Weight 200grams