The original mold of this sumi ink stick was made as a gift to celebrate the Kansei Reforms (1787-1793 CE) by the Edo Shogunate.
The Edo Shogunate's official scholar (Nakai Chikuzan) had a relationship with Koubaien at the time, and decided to make such a special sumi ink stick.
This is a top-quality oil-smoke ink made with canola oil. This is one of the products in the "Shitsu boku ( 漆墨, Shitsu boku, Lacquer black )". category, which is considered to be the finest of all sumi inksticks.
The darker the ink, the more shiny and pure black it becomes. Light black ink is brownish black.
丸 ( maru : round )
虎 ( tora : tiger )
Width 86 mm, Length 86 mm, Thickness 19 mm, Weight 100grams
Ms. Junko Azukawa, a contemporary calligrapher and ink painter in Australia, explains how to use stickinks.
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