Tang Dynasty Terracotta Inkstone Vessel

An inkstone, or “yan” (砚) in Chinese, is a tool used for grinding inksticks into ink for writing. The basic functions and structure of an inkstone consist of a grinding surface called the “yan tai” (砚台) and an ink reservoir called the “mo chi” (墨池) or “inkwell.” Inkstones are primarily made of stone or refined clay, much like this fine example. The invention of paper during the Eastern Han Dynasty led to the development of many ink vessels, all of different designs, some more intricate than others. During the Tang Dynasty, the imperial court highly valued calligraphy and art in general, hence many ink stone vessels and writing tools were produced. Most popular shapes included tortoises, lotus flowers, and of course mandarin ducks.