Songhua inkstone is representative of China's Four Treasures of the Study — brush, ink, paper and inkstone — and embodies centuries of exquisite craftsmanship and cultural heritage. The surface of the inkstone is smooth, yet it keeps the ink from spreading too fast; and it is textured enough for grinding the ink without wearing the brush. In Qiaotou, a county in Benxi, a city in northeast China's Liaoning Province, artisans continue to preserve the centuries-old craft of making Songhua inkstones.
Brilliant History
Nestled where the hills of eastern Liaoning meet the remaining ranges of the Changbai Mountains, Qiaotou is home to the famed Songhua stone, whose natural patterns, dense texture and enduring quality make it an ideal material for crafting inkstone.
By the time of the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644), artisans in Qiaotou had already made inkstones, from Songhua stone, for their own use. It was during the Qing Dynasty (1644–1911) that Emperor Kangxi (1654–1722) recognized the stone's potential as a fine inkstone material, and Qiaotou became a quarry that served the imperial court.
Emperor Kangxi personally oversaw the creation of Songhua inkstones. He wrote an essay, in which he praised the unique qualities of the inkstones. The imperial court subsequently established Songhua Inkstone Workshop, and the inkstone became an imperial gift, which the emperor presented to virtuous officials.
During the early 1920s, Chen Guangqing, a master inkstone carver, who once worked in the imperial court, made his way to Qiaotou, where he devoted himself to crafting Songhua inkstones. During the following decades, he blended the simplicity of folk craftsmanship with the elegance of imperial tradition.
In 1929, the Songhua inkstone won first prize at the West Lake Exposition, in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province. That win helped spread the inkstone's fame across the country. Songhua inkstone reached Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines during the 1930s. In 2014, the craft of making Songhua inkstones was added to the items on the list of China's national intangible cultural heritage.
Meticulous Skills
The Songhua inkstone embodies a complete craftsmanship system rooted in imperial tradition, with each step guided by the principle of "the beauty of balance and harmony." The production process — from stone selection to carving, and then to polishing and waxing — requires an artisan to have meticulous skills.
The artisan begins by selecting the right stone. Only pure stone, without impurities and cracks, can be used to make inkstone. Then, the artisan carefully cuts the raw stone into standard blanks, most commonly rectangular or oval in shape. Some inkstones, however, take on mimetic forms, such as the gourd, bamboo joint, or melon and fruit.
To keep ink from drying out too quickly in the bitter cold, the artisan carves a lid box from a single piece of stone — the base, body and cover forming a seamless whole. The tight-fitting lid locks in moisture, and it slows evaporation.
When drafting the design, the artisan follows the stone's natural colors and grain patterns. Traditional motifs are derived from ancient bronze vessels, often complemented by auspicious symbols, such as phoenixes and longevity peaches. While the designs of contemporary inkstones have evolved with the times, they still carry the refined essence of the imperial heritage. While carving, the artisan wields a variety of gravers, and he/she adapts each technique to the pattern. Then, the polishing and waxing steps help improve the carving, to make the carved surface smooth.
Some skilled artisans will take several months to transform raw stone into a delicate work of art. Beyond its artistic appeal, a fine inkstone should also meet practical standards, such as grinding and holding ink well.
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| Feng Yueting, a provincial-level inheritor of the craft of making Songhua inkstones |
Inheritance, Promotion
Feng Jun, the fourth-generation inheritor of the craft of making Songhua inkstones, devoted himself to the art during his lifetime, and he meticulously studied the techniques of imperial inkstone craftsmanship used during the Qing Dynasty. Feng Yueting, Feng Jun's daughter, and a fifth-generation inheritor of the craft, took up the family legacy in 2016. She has since dedicated herself to preserving the heritage. In 2018, she established Liaoning Zixiatang Cultural Communication and Development Co., Ltd. Under her leadership, the company's artisans have studied and replicated the imperial inkstone collections housed in the Palace Museum (in Beijing), Shenyang Palace Museum (in Liaoning's Shenyang City), Taipei Palace Museum (in Taiwan), and other major museums across China.
She remains committed to the traditional craftsmanship passed down from her father; yet, she strives to drive innovation in the craft. By combining the lacquerware-making techniques with the unique texture of the Songhua stone, her company's research and development team has overcome the longstanding challenge of applying color to the stone. The team has also integrated the techniques of cutting and polishing gemstone and jade into the production of Songhua inkstones.
Feng Yueting has also expanded the range of the Songhua stone, including tea ceremony utensils, incense tools and decorative items, to bring the beauty of Songhua stone into everyday life. Her company has developed a series of cultural and creative products, featuring Songhua stone, which are now being sold at well-known scenic spots in several cities.
In recent years, she has been a passionate promoter of inkstone culture. She has led her team in developing study-tour programs, including hands-on ink grinding and inkstone-pattern stamping. She has also promoted traditional inkstone-making techniques, through livestreaming and short videos, making this elegant cultural heritage more accessible to a wider audience.
"My original intention was simply to get more young people to learn about Songhua inkstones. Only when this heritage gains wider recognition will it flourish and, in turn, attract more people willing to learn this time-honored craft," says Feng Yueting.
Photos from Interviewee
(Women of China English Monthly July 2026)
Editor: Wang Shasha
