KANPOU KEN
- Inkstone carving
- Presented in 2008
- H 2.0 x W 16.0 x D 22.0 cm
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When a person enjoys and admires an ink stone, that person imagines what is on his mind in that scene. I call the part where the ink stone is rubbed the "hill" or "land" and the part where the water and liquid ink is placed, "pond" or "sea" and create a scene. I made this piece imagining a quiet lake and the sky and clouds reflecting on the surface of the lake.
| Category | Inkstone carving |
|---|---|
| Year Presented | 2008 |
| Dimensions | H 2.0 x W 16.0 x D 22.0 cm |
| Materials | Tankei green stone (China) |
| Exhibition | The 55th Japan Traditional Kōgei Exhibition |
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Inkstone carving
Inkstones are used in brush calligraphy to grind the ink for writing characters. Inkstones are highly valued writing tools, and the process of ink grinding is regarded as a calming practice preceding calligraphic activities. First, the rough shape of the inkstone is cut out of the base rock. Next, a long-handled chisel is used to cut a flat surface where the ink will be ground and a well where the ink will gather. The final form is coated with a finish of wax or lacquer. Popular varieties of stone include Amehata slate (amehataishi) from Yamanashi prefecture, akamaishi schalstein from Yamaguchi prefecture, and hōmeiseki shale and slate from Aichi prefecture.
V Hozan Nagura
As stone materials I use kimpo-seki, engan-seki, and homei-seki, collected around Kadoya, and the suzuri (ink stone) made of these three types of stone are called “Horaiji Suzuri.” Not only do I want to improve and cultivate the techniques handed down by my predecessors, and pass them on to the next generation, but I also want to develop suzuri from a simple calligraphy utensil to a work of art as a “vessel imbued with heart” that expresses the spirit and aesthetic sense of the Japanese people. I do not want to just follow a Chinese style, rather I aim to elevate the value of suzuri toward a new cultural and artistic domain of Japanese style; with this hope, I carry out my day-to-day production.