Inkstone is an essential tool for Chinese calligraphy. The inkstone is not only a study utensil. Due to its strong nature, it has been passed down for generations and has been chosen as a collection of treasures by literati of all ages. The materials of inkstones are rich and diverse. In addition to Duan stone, She stone, Taohe stone, Cheng mud stone, red silk stone, Tangji stone and chrysanthemum stone, there are also jade inkstone, jade miscellaneous stone inkstone, tile inkstone, lacquered sand inkstone, iron inkstone. There are dozens of kinds of inkstones, porcelain inkstones, etc.

Since the Tang Dynasty, Duan inkstone from Duanxi in Guangdong, She inkstone from She County in Anhui, Tao inkstone from southern Gansu and Chengni inkstone from Luoyang, Henan have been collectively known as the "Four Famous Inkstones".

In the broad and profound traditional Chinese calligraphy circle, it is also recognized as the top ten famous inkstones:

1. Duan inkstones are made from the Lanhe Mountains in Duanxi, southeast of Gaoyao City, Zhaoqing, Guangdong. They are "light in weight, hard and soft in texture, and feel lonely and soundless when touched." Since their inception in the Tang Dynasty, Duan Inkstones have been favored by literati. In addition, the textures are gorgeous, each has its own style, the processing techniques are becoming more and more complex, and the status is getting higher and higher, so it has risen to the top of my country's stone inkstones.

2. The material of She inkstone is taken from the stream near Longwei Mountain in Wuyuan County, Jiangxi Province, so it is also called Longwei inkstone. The stone is firm and moist, feels like skin when caressed, has an edge when rubbed, leaves astringent water on the pen, is slippery but does not repel ink, the ink is small and easy to dry, and when washed, it becomes clean. Since the Tang Dynasty, it has maintained its status as a famous inkstone.

3. Shanxi Chengni inkstone is a pottery inkstone, which was already a tribute in the Tang and Song Dynasties. It is good at carving, has the color of beautiful jade, stores ink without consumption, accumulates ink without rotting, does not freeze in winter, does not wither in summer, and is not eaten by insects when writing and painting.

4． Tao inkstone is also called Taohe inkstone. The material is taken from the deep water of the Tao River in the Zhuoni area of ??Gansu Province. Therefore, the quality of the stone is exquisite, the texture of the stone is meticulous, the ink is emitted without damaging any hair, the surface is not polished when polished, and it is moistened when breathed out. The north is the most valuable.

5. Shandong red silk stone inkstone is the representative of Lu inkstone. Historically, it has been known as one of the four famous inkstones in China for its tender texture, hair protection, lustrous color, and magnificent variety.

6． Sichuan Juque Inkstone, the stone is as warm and moist as jade, tender but not slippery. The stone that makes a clanging sound when struck, and is as delicate and moist as a baby's skin when caressed is a top-grade stone. The best color is purple, black, and clear.

7. Ningxia Helan inkstone uses Helan stone, which naturally forms deep purple and green, which complement each other. The color is bright, with purple background and green color. The carving artist adapts to the stone conditions and carefully uses materials to carve out various Helan inkstones.

8. Guizhou Sizhou stone inkstone has a history of more than 4,000 years and has unique national style and local characteristics.

9． For a long time, the Songhua Royal Inkstone in Jilin Province has been exclusively used by the court. With the fall of the Qing Dynasty, this precious inkstone was lost. Production was not resumed until 1979.

10. Yishui ancient inkstones are fine in quality, easy to produce ink, and have simple carvings. They are cherished by calligraphers and collectors of all generations. Now there is an unprecedented collection boom of Yishui ancient inkstones.

Stone inkstones are produced in many places in our country, such as purple stone inkstone and turtle stone inkstone in Shandong, Yanzi stone inkstone in Dawenkou area, Tianheng stone inkstone and Wen stone inkstone in Jimo, Penglai Tuoji stone inkstone. Inkstones, Xue Nanshan stone inkstone and Xu Gong stone inkstone from Linyi, Nishan stone inkstone from Qufu, Tiantan (Pangu) inkstone from Jiyuan, Henan, Leshi inkstone from Suxian, Anhui, ocher inkstone from Xiushui, Jiangxi, Songhua stone inkstone from the lower reaches of Songhua River in Jilin , Jialingxia stone inkstone from Hechuan, Sichuan, Jiayu stone inkstone from Jiayuguan, Gansu, Helan stone inkstone from Ningxia, Qinghai, Xi inkstone from Jiangshan, Zhejiang, Shuichong inkstone from Xiangxi, Hunan, etc. But since the Tang Dynasty, Duan inkstone, She inkstone, Tao inkstone, Chengni inkstone and red silk inkstone have become particularly famous. The Chengni inkstone belongs to pottery, and the other four inkstones are all stone inkstones.