Year: 2006
Sort: Traditional Handicraft
Area: Anhui Province and Jiangxi Province
Serial No.: Ⅷ-74
Declarer: She County, Anhui Province and Wuyuan County, Jiangxi Province

She Ink-stone, one of the four most renowned ink-stone genres in China, was mainly produced and became famous in the She County of ancient Huizhou. Wuyuan used to be under the jurisdiction of ancient Huizhou, hence the ink-stone produced was also called She Ink-stone.

The ink-stone making technique includes many procedures such as choosing stones, designing, carving, polishing, and making packing boxes. According to the natural texture of the stone, the ink-stone can be divided into five categories which further branch into over 100 categories.

She Ink-stone was produced as early as the Han Dynasty (206BC- 220AD) and became famous in the Tang Dynasty (618-907). Liyu, the last emperor of Later Tang Dynasty (923-936), set up a special office responsible for supervising ink-stone making in She County and designated a craftsman named Li Shaowei to head the office. The trade witnessed fast development during the Song Dynasty (960-1279). It was the best of all ink-stone making genres in the country with its great variety, refined texture, and delicate carving. The handicraft underwent a decline during the Late Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368) and Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

After the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, ink-stone production revived and new kinds were invented after China adopted the Opening Up and Reform Policy in 1978. Now, the raw materials for the ink-stone are lacking and few people are willing to carry on the old trade, hence measures should be taken to protect it from disappearing.