Imre Jakabffy (szerk.): Ars Decorativa 8. (Budapest, 1984)

CHIA-JEN KECSKÉS, Lily: Art and connoisseurship of the ink

8. TWO PAIRS OF INKSTICKS with the title: Chin hu chih (Sap of the golden jug). Inv.-Nr 1490. for fine ink grew in the course of centuries. Before the Sung, we mostly hear about the use of ink; ink owners found pleasure in acquiring fine ink and writing with it, appreciating its color and lustre. T'ang Emperor Hsiian-tsung (712—756), a famous ink lover, gave his scribes each season 336 ink sticks from I-shui. Many other Emperors were the patrons of inkmakers. The propensity for collecting inks for keeping as objet d'art started at the time of the Southern T'ang dynasty and spread during the Sung, expect for a short period at the very beginning of that dynasty. The first group of ink collectors were the rulers of the dynasties. Li Yü, the ruler of the Southern T'ang (907—936), took Li Ch'ao and his sons under his patronage, 9. COVER OF THE LACQUERED BOX for the 4-piece ink set, with the title: Ts'ang yen (Smoke ink collection). and appointed T'ing-kuei an ink official. The fame of Li T'ing-kuei thus began. The demand for the inks made by Li Ch'ao and his sons was so great that they had to increase the production and sacrifice the quality. Asked by the Prefect of Shechou, T'ao Ya, why their new inks were not as good as the old ones, Li Ch'ao had the following to say: ,,When your Honor first came to the Prefecture, I made only ten ink cakes a year, and now I am making several hundred! How could you expect then to be all good and fine?!"

22 Nevertheless, inks made by Li Ch'ao and his sons became famous and were treasured in the imperial palace. During the reign of Jen-tsung (1023—1032) of the Sung, a thousand catties of inks made by the Lis were sent as tribute to the Court. In the 153