The Canton advocate. [volume] (Canton, D.T. [S.D.]) 1877-1897, 1884-02-14
India Ink.

A Chinaman named Chen-ki-souen
has written a monograph on the famous
Chinese ink, more commonly known
here as India Ink. We find the fol-
lowing interesting extracts, regarding
its history and preparation, in the
DeutSche lndustrie Zctung.
Many articles are found in the ex-
tensivc literature of China written by
their learned men about the paper. ink,
and brushes that they use for writing.
but unfortunately y very little Is said
about the technology of their inks: It
is quite otherwise in the recent book
written by Chen-ki-souen, for he de-
scribes every stage of its preparation
with great accuracy and in detail.
According to our Celestial author,
kind of pigment ink was discovered
2697 to 2597 B. c. 1t was employed for
writing on silk with a bamboo rod.
Afterward an ink was prepared from a
certain stone (encre de pierre), which
is still known in China as che-hci. 1t
was not until 26O or 22O B. G. that
they began to make an ink from SCOT
or lampblack. The SCOT was obtained
by burning gum lac and pine wood. This
ink was made at first in round balls
and very soon supplanted the stone ink:
For while the province of kiang-si
appears to have had q monopoly of ink
making. Under the dynasty OF Tang,
in 61S to 905 A. D., there was special
officer called an inspector, who had
charge of its manufacture. He had to
furnish the Chinese court with certain
quantity of this ink annually. Some
of the factories seem to have been
'royal Chinese factories. The Emperor
Hinan-Tsong (713 to 756 AID. } founded
two universities, to which he sent
S36 balls OF ink four times year.
The most celebrated ink factory in
China is that of Li-ting-kouei, who lived
in tho latter part of the reign OF lang,
and is said to have made an excellent
article. He made his ink in the shape
Of sword or staff, or in round cakes.
The test of its authenticity consisted in
breaking up the rod and putting the
pieces in water; if it remained intact
at the end of a month, it was genuine
Li-ting-kouei. Since the death Of this
celebrated man there seems to have
been no perceptible advance made in
the manufacture of India ink.
In the manufacture of lampblack
nearly everything is used that will
burn. Besides pine wood we may
mention petroleum, oils obtained from
different plants, perfumed rice flour,
bark of the pomegranate tree, rhino-
ccros horn, pearls, musk, etc, Nor
does fraud seem to have been entirely
wanting. According to Chinese au=
thorities, the principal thing is the
proper preparation of the lampblack;
the best smells like musk, and the
addition, of musk not only serves to
give poor goods the resemblance OF fine
ones, but really makes it worse.
The binding agent plays the CHIEF
| part next to the lampblack; ordinary
glue and isinglass alone are now used.
In old times glue made from the horns
of the rhinoceros and of deer was
employed.
Good Chinese ink improves with age,
and should not be used for a few years
after it is made. 1t is not easy to keep
it as it must be protected from moisture.
Some persons, in rubbing it up, make
| circular movements that soon ruin it.
1t is better to rub it in straight lines
back and forth with the least possible
/ pressure.