Sumi-E and Chinese Calligraphy Ink Sticks and Grinding Stones For more than a thousand years, the method of making Sumi sticks has remained the same. Sumi sticks are made from soot from pine (SSB101) or certain vegetable oils (SSB112) mixed with animal or fish glue is molded and dried to form a well-shaped solid block which, when ground on a Suzuri stone with water, turns to ink. They produce the famous Five Colors, or shades of black, that form the basis of "monochromatic" Sumi painting.
The Suzuri is a flat grinding stone used to make Sumi ink. It has a sloping indentation which forms a small well at one end. A Sumi ink stick is ground on the stone surface with plain water to produce liquid ink. Measures 3x5-1/2".
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