What is the meaning of semi-oily smoke ink block?

It shows that this ink block is not really the kind of lampblack, but only half-like.

Ink blocks are divided into two categories: one is pine smoke and the other is oil smoke. Ordinary lampblack, lampblack ink painting and calligraphy are all suitable. Song Yanmo is only suitable for writing, but the ink is dark but dull, and it melts easily in water.

Used to write papers in the imperial examination era, black. Since Haitong, foreign cigarettes have been used as ink, that is, soot. Coal merchants covet cheap and labor-saving, and shoddy. Although beginners can use it, the quality is too poor to be suitable for painting and calligraphy.

In the Song Dynasty, Changyu and Gong were famous "Longxiang" ink. Since then, smoke ink has become popular, and in the Ming Dynasty, the production of oily smoke ink has attracted the attention of scholars. Ming Longtu's "After Examination" contains: "The oil smoke is delicate but not deep."

Oil fume ink contains a certain amount of unburned oil components, which has the functions of helping luster, showing charm, promoting penetration, preventing corrosion and moth. Soot ink is a first-class ink, but it is sticky and only suitable for painting.