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March 13, 2017

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Home » City specials » Hangzhou

Inkpad master elevates ‘low-key’ craft tradition

By Wu Huixin | March 13, 2017, Monday | Print Edition

HANGZHOU’S prestigious Xiling Seal Society boasts top-notch carving masters and produces some of the most breath-taking seals in China. During its centuries-old history, its standing at the height of seal-related arts has been unshakeable.

Yet shining seals often steal the thunder from low-key inkpads, which are an indispensable part of the art. Good quality inkpads are essential to reproducing subtle carved lines and stereoscopic impressions.

Cao Qin has been making inkpads for more than 40 years, since he started to study seal cutting at 18. At the time, the most noteworthy inkpad makers were Mao Darong and Han Deng’an, for former of whom Cao served as an apprentice.

“In the late 1970s, the seal society recruited a batch of new cutters to enlarge its size. And I was one of them,” said Cao. “After learning cutting techniques, we were required to make inkpads. Then Mao became my teacher and passed all of his skills onto me.”

Today, Cao is the only craftsman making authentic Xiling-style inkpads, and his skills were listed as part of Hangzhou’s intangible cultural heritage a few years ago.

While modern factories have streamlined the inkpad manufacturing process, Cao still adheres to original hand-making techniques and natural materials.

“It takes two to three days to finish work on an inkpad weighing just a few grams, and the whole process includes more than 1,000 steps,” said Cao. “Looking for natural materials is also time-consuming.”

Handmade inkpads are mainly made from cinnabar, mugwort and castor oil. Hexagonal crystal cinnabar is preferred for making inkpads because of its good mercury content, among other properties. Cao occasionally flies to Yunnan and Guizhou provinces looking for the best cinnabar mines.

Mugwort is a common herb growing in many areas of the country. However, the best type for inkpad making grows in Jingzhou, Hubei Province. Castor oil is another material that decides the quality of an inkpad. In the search for high oil-yield-rate castor, Cao has traveled around the country and discovered an ideal variety in Shaanxi Province.

“The oil needs to bake in the sun in summertime, especially during high temperature days,” Cao said. “The best-level oil must be preserved for more than 10 years. At least, it has to be conserved for a year. The longer it is kept, the better it will be. The baked oil can help congeal other materials at the best viscosity.”

Traditional Chinese inkpads are red in color. Though cinnabar gives them a red hue, Cao uses another natural pigment to make them even brighter. It is abstracted from prickly pears growing in Taiwan, the fruit of which is often used as an edible food dye.

“Collecting all of the above materials demands plenty of time, but I cannot leave anything out. Otherwise, the inkpad is not authentic and this impacts the usage,” said Cao.

Nowadays, Cao has a workshop with a couple of workers. They only produce handmade inkpads weighing out to between 5 to 15 kilograms each year. Due to the sophisticated crafting process and rare materials, the inkpads are only available by custom-order, with prices set by weight at 40 yuan (US$5.80) per gram.

These pricey pads still attract top carving masters from across the country, because they feature strong durability, never leak oil, and can maintain their color for hundreds of years.

During his 40 years of inkpad making experience, Cao has witnessed many changes in the marketplace. Though authentic Xiling inkpads are popular with professional seal cutters, amateurs often prefer cheaper ones. Therefore, Cao has also melded handmade techniques with modern materials to create a low-price, yet high-quality inkpad.

The castor oil is replaced by industrial oil and artificial pigment substitutes for the prickly pear fruit. The result has proven popular with consumers. Nowadays, the workshop produces 500 kilograms of such cheaper inkpads each year.

After being included as part of Hangzhou’s intangible cultural heritage, Cao is now focused on spreading inkpad culture to the public. He has been invited to colleges and universities to give lectures, and attracted many young students in the process.

Cao’s son has also been studying the skills of inkpad making for many years.

“Inkpad is a low-key art. Ever since it came into being, it was handed down one by one. Master Mao passed it to me, and now I give it to my son,” said Cao.

Hangzhou


 

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