This is a type of bluish sumi inkstick. A wonderful ink made from the smoke of the finest pine bark with ultra-fine particles.
The four designs carved into this inkstick represent the four worlds of Buddhism. It is made from the inkstick moulds of the old Edo period in Japan ( 1600-1800 CE - mid-1800 CE )
Pure gold leaf is applied to enhance the preservation of the ink. It also makes the ink apply more smoothly.
Width:37 mm Length:68mm Thickness:15mm Weight:40gram
四 ( shi : four )
獄 ( goku : world )
Ms. Junko Azukawa, a contemporary calligrapher and ink painter in Australia, explains how to use stickinks.
!