What are the four famous inkstones in China?

It's Duan Yan, She Yan, Lu Yan and Yan Tao.

Introduction:

Duanyan is produced in Duan Xi, the eastern suburb of Zhaoqing City, Guangdong Province. Zhaoqing was the liaison place of Duanzhou in ancient times, hence the name Duanyan. Duanyan came out around the time of Tang Wude. Stone is excellent, its quality is solid and subtle, wet and subtle. According to The History of Duan Xi Inkstone, Duanyan is characterized by: "Light, rigid and soft, lonely and silent when rubbed, soft but not slippery when pressed against children's skin, beautiful and colorful. After holding it for a long time, the palm of your hand is full of water. The so-called Jin Yaomo, covered with pen lines, is also priceless. " Duanyan stone also has various beautiful textures. The famous varieties are fish brain jelly, banana leaf white, blue and white, etc. Its style was put into practical use earlier. From the Middle Tang Dynasty to the Song Dynasty and even the Ming and Qing Dynasties, it became more and more colorful. In addition to various inkstone-shaped styles, various landscapes, figures, flowers and birds are also carved. Guangdong inkstone has gradually developed into a practical and ornamental craft crystal, which has become the treasure of Four Treasures of the Study in China.

She inkstone is a kind of inkstone produced in Weilongshan, Wuyuan County, Jiangxi Province. Wuyuan belonged to Zhou She from the early Tang Dynasty to the middle Song Dynasty, hence the name "She Yan". According to the Book of Zhangzhou inkstone in the Northern Song Dynasty and the Tang Dynasty, Wuyuan inkstone was produced in the Kaiyuan period of the Tang Dynasty. Song Zhao Xiyu recorded in "Lu Qing Ji in the Cave" that there are pebbles in the old pit at the end of the stream, which are as fine as jade and as ink as oil, so they are polished silently for a long time without damaging the pen power, and there are faint white lines, forming images such as mountains and rivers, stars, clouds and moons. She inkstone is superior to other inkstones in quality, color and pen and ink. She is also called Duanyan, and Su Shi and Cai Xiang praised her poems in Song Dynasty. The famous varieties are Weilong inkstone, Tam inkstone and Meizi inkstone.

It first appeared in the Tang Dynasty. Produced in Weifang, Zibo and Yidu areas under the jurisdiction of Qingzhou at that time. Shandong was called Lu in ancient times, hence its name. The texture is diverse, colorful, smooth, firm but not stubborn, thin but not slippery, easy to ink, and does not damage the hair. Calligraphers of all ages are extremely important. In "On Research", Liu Tanggong said: "Qingzhou is the place where ink is stored, followed by Jiangzhou; After the beginning, it will be heavy, embarrassing and awkward. " The History of Ink written by Mi Fei in the Song Dynasty also listed Qingzhou Qingshi as the first inkstone in various places. Among Lu inkstones, HongLing inkstone is the most precious one. Hongsiyan county has a variety of magnificent color line patterns, which are moist and delicate, do not consume water and are as ink as oil. In addition, there are Zishi inkstone, Tian Heng inkstone, Jinxingshan inkstone and Nishan inkstone. They are all fine works of Luyan inkstone.