"Four Treasures of the Scholar" textile box — an introduction to Chinese calligraphy and solid ink.
Prepare the ink on the stone, choose one of the four brushes,
then test the obtained density before starting to draw.
The box gathers the necessary tools to discover Chinese calligraphy,
sumi-e and ink wash painting.
To plan for:
the listed content does not include paper.
To start, use Xuan paper or paper suitable for ink techniques.
Related guide: understanding the Four Treasures of the Scholar
To better understand the role of the brush, inkstick, paper, and ink stone,
consult the Ikane guide dedicated to the four fundamental tools of Chinese calligraphy.
Read the Guide to the Four Treasures
Information
The "Four Treasures of the Scholar" traditionally refer to
the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.
This set includes the preparation and drawing tools;
the paper is chosen separately according to the desired diffusion speed.
The ink is not ready to use.
The stick must be rubbed with a little water on the flat part of the stone.
You first obtain a concentrated base, then you lighten it drop by drop.
The four brushes allow comparison of several line widths
and several ink capacities.
The stone seal is provided uncarved:
it cannot be used to sign a work without prior carving and without seal paste.
Box contents
Brushes
4 calligraphy brushes of different sizes
Inkstone
Round stone for grinding and diluting ink
Ink
1 Sumi solid ink stick
Porcelain
1 brush rest and 1 cup
Seal
1 practice stone seal, uncarved
Box
Embroidered textile box
Paper
Not included in the listed contents
Preparing ink for the first time
How long should I rub?
For a small quantity, allow about 5 minutes.
This time serves as a guide, not an absolute rule:
stop when the ink no longer appears watery
and a test stroke gives a consistent black.
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Place only a few drops of water on the flat part of the stone.
Do not fill the entire cavity at the start.
-
Hold the stick almost vertically,
with its base flat against the stone.
-
Rub slowly in small circles or regular movements,
without pressing hard.
-
After 3 minutes, observe the ink.
If it remains gray and very liquid, continue for another 1 to 2 minutes.
-
Test a stroke on a scrap piece of the same paper.
If the black is too pale, rub for another 30 to 60 seconds.
-
If the ink is too thick or catches on the paper,
add one or two drops of water, mix, then test again.
The final density depends on both the amount of water
and the grinding time.
Preparing a small concentrated base and then diluting it gradually
is simpler for beginners than starting with too much water.
Use and care
Dampen the brush before loading it,
then remove excess water without twisting the fibers.
Start with the intermediate brush:
it is generally the easiest for testing basic strokes
and pressure changes.
The brush rest prevents the loaded fibers from touching the table.
The small cup can hold clear water
or a second ink dilution to work with several shades of black.
After the session, rinse the brushes and stone with clear water.
Wipe the damp side of the inkstick
and do not put any wet items back into the textile box.
🤍 Ikane workshop tip
First prepare a strong black, then place a small portion of it into the cup
with a few drops of water.
This gives you two ink densities without having to start the entire grinding process again.
