Cao Zhen

    caozhen0806@126.com

    MORE than 300 ancient Chinese stationery items are on display at the Shenzhen Museum at Civic Center, showcasing a surprising variety of items used by traditional scholars.

    The exhibits are not limited to brushes, ink, paper and inkstones, which are normally called “the four treasures of the study,” but also include other “treasures,” such as brush holders, brush hangers, paperweights, brush-rinsing pots and seals. The items are made of pottery, porcelain, lacquer, wood, bamboo and some precious materials such as jade and ivory. Thanks to the elegant artisanship of the “treasures,” they are much more than simply practical, but are also decorative collectors’ items.

    The exhibits, provided by the Tianjin Museum, date from the Han Dynasty (202 B.C.-A.D. 220) through the early 1900s. According to Huang Yangxing, a senior researcher at the Shenzhen Museum, most of the exhibits were once used by imperial families in the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), since Tianjin is close to Beijing.

    “Ancient Chinese scholars immersed themselves in their study rooms, not only admiring paintings and calligraphic works, but also appreciating the furnishings, decoration and stationery in the study,” said Huang.

    Among the 300 exhibits, inkstones are the majority because they are the most important of the “four treasures of the study.” In ancient China, beautifully carved and inscribed inkstones made by seasoned artists were often presented as tributes to emperors or as gifts between rich people. Because they are so sturdy, inkstones are usually handed down from generation to generation.

    The beauty of an inkstone is not only determined by its color, patterns or the object it is shaped to resemble, but is also determined by its capacity to integrate with ink and brush. A good inkstone produces smooth and thick liquid ink while doing no harm to the brush. This requires ideal materials and at the exhibitions, visitors can admire the four famous types of quality inkstones, namely Duan inkstones from Guandong Province, She inkstones from Anhui Province, Taohe inkstones from Gansu Province and Chengni inkstones from Shanxi Province.

    These four types of inkstones have been used by emperors since the Tang (618-907) or the Song Dynasty (960-1279). The inkstones are high-quality because they are made of rocks formed some hundreds of thousand of years ago with rich, natural markings. Duan and She inkstones have distinctive veins due to the various rock materials incorporated throughout the stone. Taohe inkstones bear distinct markings such as bands of ripples with varying shades. The stone is crystalline and looks like jade. Chengni inkstones are significantly different from the other three kinds, being a kind of pottery. Instead of hard stone, Chengni inkstones are made of silt from the Yellow River.

    At the exhibition, visitors can also see inksticks that are fine grained and decorated with poems, calligraphy or bas-relief, as well as colored inksticks.

    Dates: Until Aug. 3

    Hours: 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Closed Mondays

    Venue: Shenzhen Museum, Block A, Civic Center, Futian District (福田区市民中心A区深圳博物馆新馆)

    Metro: Shekou or Longhua Line, Civic Center Station (市民中心站), Exit B