Zuoque Inkstone

雕刻中的苴却砚。图据“这里仁和”公众号

　　苴却砚雕刻作品。图据“这里仁和”公众号

　　Nestled in the lush mountains of Panzhihua, Sichuan, lies a treasure of intangible cultural heritage — the Zuoque Inkstone. For over a millennium, this exquisite stone has been revered as one of China’s“Four Great Inkstones”, a testament to its enduring legacy in the world of traditional calligraphy and ink painting.
　　Crafted from unique purple-black sandstone
sourced locally, Zuoque Inkstones are distinguished by their natural, intricate patterns, including the distinctive“stone eyes”— concentric circles resemble pupils —
　　as well as swirling designs reminiscent of flowing
　　clouds or rippling water. Each inkstone is a
　　one-of-a-kind masterpiece, shaped by the powers of
　　nature and refined by the hands of craftsmen.
　　Creating a single Zuoque Inkstone is a labor of love
and patience. Artisans employ time-honored techniques, using simple tools to carve, polish, and refine the raw stone over weeks or even months. The process demands not only skill but also a deep understanding of the material to ensure the final product is both beautiful and functional. A high-quality Zuoque Inkstone is smooth to the touch, fine-grained, and perfectly suited for grinding ink sticks. It retains moisture without drying the ink, allowing artists to create seamless, consistent strokes.
　　Beyond its practical use, the Zuoque Inkstone embodies deep cultural values. It
represents a connection to China’s scholarly traditions, where the act of grinding ink was a meditative ritual preceding creation. Today, it remains a symbol of Panzhihua’s identity and artistic spirit. As modern technology advances, efforts to preserve this ancient craft have become even more vital, ensuring that the silent elegance of the Zuoque Inkstone can continue to inspire future generations.

译文千古苴却砚墨韵攀枝花

　　在四川攀枝花的苍翠群山之中，蕴藏着一项非物质文化遗产的瑰宝——苴却砚。这种精美的砚台被誉为中国“四大名砚”之一，它跨越千年时光，在传统书法和国画世界中续写着经久不衰的传奇。
　　苴却砚取材于当地独特的紫黑色砂岩，以其天然繁复的石纹著称。这些石纹包括状若眼瞳的同心圆“石眼”，以及宛如流云或涟漪的旋涡纹路。每一方苴却砚都是独一无二的艺术珍品，既得天地造化，又经匠心雕琢。
　　制作一方苴却砚需要投入极大的精力与耐心。匠人们秉承古法，运用简朴的工具，历经数周甚至数月的时间进行雕刻、打磨和精修。这个过程不仅需要精湛的技艺，更需要对材料的深刻理解，以确保成品既美观又实用。一方优质的苴却砚触感细腻，石质温润，是研墨的理想工具。它能使墨汁保持湿润，久不干涸，从而让书画家的笔触流畅均匀。
　　苴却砚的价值远超其实用功能，承载着深厚的文化内涵。它延续着中国文人的传统，研磨墨锭的过程本身即创作前沉心静气的仪式。如今，它依然是攀枝花城市身份与艺术精神的象征。随着现代科技的发展，保护这项传统工艺显得尤为重要，只有如此，才能确保苴却砚的沉静优雅继续启迪后世。
　　（指导教师：成都树德中学宁夏校区 钟焜）