A wonderful ink made from the smoke of the finest canola oil with ultra-fine particles.
The shape of this sumi inkstick imitates the shape of gold currency in old Japan (Edo period, 1600-1800 CE - mid-1800 CE). It is made from the inkstick moulds of the time.
Width:42mm Length:83mm Thickness:8mm Weight:45gram
金 ( kin : gold )
万 ( man : ten thousand )
両 ( ryo: currency unit )
Why is gold leaf attached to inksticks?
There are three reasons for this.
The first reason is, of course, the beauty of the ink.
The second reason is preservation. Gold is not subject to chemical change, so it is suitable for preserving the quality of the ink for long periods of time.
The third reason is practicality when creating works of art. For many years, many Japanese calligraphers have said that usingn liquid ink made with gold leaf-coated inksticks makes it easier to draw soft lines. It is said that the gold particles help to make the brush strokes smoother. For this reason, inksticks with gold leaf are said to be good for writing Kuzushiji ( Japanese cursive letters ) .