This is a type of bluish sumi inkstick. A wonderful ink made from the smoke of the finest pine bark with ultra-fine particles.
It depicts a peach blossom, the symbol of love and prosperity in old China.
Width:46mm Length:88mm Thickness:14mm Weight:45gram
純 ( jun : pure )
松 ( shou : pine )
煙 ( en: smoke )
墨 ( boku: ink )
松 ( shou : pine )
煙 ( en: smoke )
真 ( shin: true )
墨 ( boku : ink )
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 ) .