This is "Sōshō Banko," an oval-shaped pine soot ink stick from China. ~Vast, verdant pines from ancient times~ "Sōshō Banko" (蒼松萬古) is an auspicious motif symbolizing eternal youth and longevity, derived from the image of pine needles remaining vibrant through the years. It is a beautiful and artistic ink stick. The charm of ancient Chinese ink sticks lies in their weaker binder, which allows the ink to bleed to the bottom of the paper, creating uneven spreads beyond the characters and a sense of depth and aged refinement. Furthermore, the color tone of Tang ink (Chinese ink) changes significantly depending on the water used. With Japanese water (soft water), it produces a soft, light ink tone. However, when ground with mineral water of high hardness, the deep ink tone gains more depth. The binder in Tang ink has low viscosity, making it less sticky and resulting in a light, smooth brushstroke. The inscription on the back, Li Tinggui (李廷珪), was a master ink maker of the Southern Tang dynasty. His ink, known as "Li Mo" (李墨), is regarded as the finest ink in Chinese history for its quality. This ink stick is made in imitation of Li Tinggui's style. The artistic value of this "Sōshō Banko" as a craft is truly worthy of appreciation. Size: Approximately 11 cm (length) x 3 cm (width) x 1.5 cm (thickness) Weight: Approximately 60g *New and unused #AncientInk #JapaneseInk #TangInk #OilSootInk #PineSootInk #SesameOilSootInk #RapeseedOilSootInk #BlueInk #HuiInk #Calligraphy #InkStick #Inkstone #Brush #Writing #Paper #Art #FineArts #SealCarving #SealMaterial #SolidInk