Daiyu burial flower, Baoyu monk, twelve golden hairpins... Recently, in the studio of Wang Yuming, the non-inherited inheritor of Tao inkstone skills in Zhuoni County, Gansu, a huge long scroll inkstone of Dream of Red Mansions attracted attention.
The inkstone is composed of four green stones, 486 cm long, 60 cm wide, and 20 cm thick. The raw materials are taken from the old pit of Shuiquan Bay, Taoyan Township, Zhuoni County. The overall carving uses relief, openwork and round carving techniques.
It depicts the stories of more than one hundred characters in the Dream of Red Mansions, the pavilions are exquisite and delicate, and the twelve golden hairpins are of different appearances and colors. They are very delicate, which shows the exquisite carving craftsmanship.
Tao Yan, also known as green stone ink, is produced between the ravines, canyons and cliffs in Lamaya and Shuiquan Bay, Taoyan Town, Zhuoni County, Gannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Gansu Province.
Together with Guangdong Duan Inkstone, Anhui She Inkstone, and Shanxi Chengni Inkstone, they are called "China's Four Famous Inkstones".
Tao Yan's carving history can be traced back to the Tang and Song Dynasties 1300 years ago, and its production skills were included in the second batch of national intangible cultural heritage protection list in 2008.
(Reporter Gao Ying)
Editor in charge: [Li Ji]