Manufacturers used fine soot to mix with water and create a watery ink substance. Therefore, as Indian scripture began to use these inkstones prevalently, Chinese ink was renamed to Indian ink.Īs the inkstone circulated around India, production for the ink material generated locally.

Englishmen who traveled to China brought different materials to India and the Chinese inkstone was among these imported materials. However, what was originally discovered and produced in China received another name in the 4 th century BC – India Ink.įrom the 4th century onwards, the mercantile economy set in, and trade was largely distributed overseas. Archaeologists have discovered countless artifacts from the Qin and Warring States periods in which the presence of inksticks was evident. These ink sticks were used largely during the 3rd millennium BC in Neolithic China when its production was massively generated. If you are interested in more about Chinese Ink check our artbook page. This ink was manually kneaded with stone pestles to form a chalk-like stick called inksticks. It was only at the very end of the Warring States period that scholars had mixed charcoal soot with animal glue to create a stronger ink form. Because this was mostly in powder format, the ink remained temporarily on the paper before disappearing. However, there is still popular debate regarding the differences between Chinese ink and Black Indian ink and the answer to this debate lies within the history of their origin.ĭuring the 2 nd millennium BC, people began recording important details of their lives and the monarchies in papers with soot and charred ink. This powder is later bound in gum with a special binding solution and mixed with water. Many use this ink with pens such as fountain pens, calligraphy pens, and technical pens.Įssentially, Chinese ink or Black Indian ink is made out of an inkstone that is crushed to form a pigmented powder. It is still used to draw comic strips or color blackened areas in paintings done by contemporary artists.

It was also necessary for a scholar to learn about the proper use of China ink when concerned with subjects of literature and philosophy during the olden days.Ĭhinese ink or Indian ink is inarguably the most recognized form of ink substance, even in modern times. Ink holds a prestigious position in Chinese culture specifically, having been used to document important papers and reports in both government and academia for years.

From the olden days to modern times, the ink has continued to be a valuable medium for painting and calligraphy to artists all over the world.

Indian ink artists