It's how to make ancient Chinese ink bar

Описание: A woman wounds the trunk of a pine tree to collect its resin. The next day, the resin that has accumulated in seashells is carefully gathered. The pine resin is then mixed with tung oil and lard, creating the base ingredients for the ink.

This oil mixture is poured into a bowl, fitted with a cotton wick, and set on fire. Another bowl is placed above it to capture the combustion residue. This process requires patience, as the residue must be collected little by little. Once a sufficient amount has been gathered, the residue is poured into water and stirred thoroughly.

After being left overnight, the mixture is dried in a ceramic pot for a year to mature into usable ink material. Once dried, the residue is combined with glue made from animal bones and hides, then blended with herbal extracts. To enhance the quality of the ink, additional ingredients such as pearl powder, cinnabar, gold, borneol, and musk powder are incorporated.

The entire mixture is thoroughly blended and then compacted using an axe—a process that helps remove air pockets and strengthen the ink’s structure. Afterward, the mixture is molded using a traditional wooden mold, forming rectangular ink bars.

The final stage involves drying the ink bars in a shaded area for three months. Once completely dry, the patterns on the surface are highlighted with gold. Now, the traditional Chinese ink bar is ready for use!

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