Helan Inkstone [Ningxia Helan Specialty]

What is Helan inkstone? Authentic specialty of Helan in Ningxia: Helan inkstone

Summary:Do you want to know what Helan inkstone is? This article is a detailed introduction to the special product of Helan in Ningxia - Helan Inkstone. It was compiled and edited by the editorial team of China Specialty Network after reviewing and collecting relevant information about Helan Inkstone. The full text takes about 8 minutes to read, mainly including the basic introduction of Helan Inkstone and the product characteristics of Helan Inkstone? How did the history of Helan inkstone come about? The production method of Helan inkstone and the awards and honors of Helan inkstone

Introduction to Helan Inkstone

Helan Inkstone is a traditional handicraft of the Han ethnic group. Produced in Lanbao, Ningxia, the raw material is Helan stone. Helan stone has a uniform structure, delicate texture, and is suitable for both rigidity and flexibility, making it a very rare stone material. The Helan inkstone carved with it has the advantages of ink production, ink retention, hair protection, and durability

The minerals that make up Helan stone are very fine, only a few tens of hair strands, and they are tightly clustered together. On such a delicate substrate, there are evenly distributed many relatively hard quartz powder and iron mineral particles, which are like "hard alloys" embedded in Helan stone

The Helan inkstone produces ink quickly, without clumping, and is durable. The Helan inkstone with a lid is like a sealer, known as "storing ink for three days". On par with the world's number one Duan Shi. This advantage is deeply loved by calligraphers and painters

The predecessor of inkstone

There are different opinions on when Helan stone stepped onto the stone carving stage. The earliest legend was associated with "Meng Tian making pens". Meng Tian was a general of Emperor Qin Shi Huang, who once led 100000 troops to camp on both sides of the Yellow River in Ningxia and other places. Meng Tian used Zhemu as the pipe, deer skin as the pillar, and sheepskin as the quilt, and created the "Qin Pen" and "Canghao" that were later called by later generations. Since the era in which Meng Tian lived had a pen, it seems that the accompanying inkstone should also have appeared, so it was associated with Helan stone. However, there is no historical record of this legend

The earliest recorded mention of Helan stone and its carved inkstone may be attributed to the "Ningxia Prefectural Annals". In its "Geographical Mountains and Rivers" section, there is a description that reads: "Bijia Mountain is located at the small rolling bell mouth of Helan Mountain, with three peaks standing tall like a pen holder. Purple stones can be used as inkstones from below, commonly known as the Helan end."

Helan stone is one of the Five Treasures of Ningxia, and it grows in Helan Mountain, hence its name. Helan stone presents a natural blend of brown purple and green, with a strong contrast. It is often accompanied by rare natural features such as jade belts, cloud patterns, eyebrows, silver threads, stone eyes, and mung bean dots. Carving a square inkstone or ornament from Helan stone, through the clever conception and production of the carving artist, will become a very beautiful and unique artwork. In terms of practical value, Helan stone is rich and moist, with fine but not smooth texture that caresses like a child's skin and resembles jade fragrance. Its quality is firm but not hard, and it is easy to carve with a knife. The inkstone carved with it has the characteristics of being able to see water in one breath, easily producing ink without damaging a hair, and retaining ink color even after being covered with excess ink for many days. This is where the value of Helan stone inkstone lies

The production method of Helan inkstone

Carving Helan inkstone from Helan stone requires eight processes. Artists face a piece of Helan stone, observe its quality, measure its color, and repeatedly contemplate before cutting. First, follow the order of the knife, roughly chisel and re carve, according to the drawn pattern or floating or carving, create contour layers, and then finely carve, using the art to convey the spirit. After the knife is completed, the inkstone is finished. A good inkstone often requires artists to put in months or even years of effort and dedication

Helanshi craft products, as the envoy of friendship of the Chinese people, have won the welcome of people in Southeast Asia

Awards and honors of Helan inkstone

Reputation

In the late Qing Dynasty, there was a saying that "one end, two Shes, and three Helan". This indicates that Helan inkstone has a certain position in the long-standing inkstone making process in China. It has become as famous as the world's top end stone

In 1963, Vice Chairman Dong Biwu praised:

The color is like a terminal stone with a slight deep purple,

The lines are like golden stars that penetrate the skin.

It becomes one of the four treasures in the study room,

It is suitable for grinding without phosphorus