The time spent grinding ink is not just a physical act; it is also a crucial time for aligning one's thoughts.
However, in the mid-Meiji period, liquid sumi ink were developed to encourage a more casual engagement with calligraphy. Since then, responding to people's needs, liquid sumi ink has become the preferred choice for Shodo lessons.
While it is meaningful in terms of time efficiency, especially in the busy modern era, and we do not deny its merits in that aspect, solid sumi ink provides various advantages besides being gentle on tools like brushes and inkstones (meaning less damage to your brushes or inkstones). At rimpamura, we recommend solid sumi ink.
Expressiveness: Solid sumi ink is ground on an inkstone, a process that significantly impacts its expressive qualities. The 'hobo' (ripples) on the surface of the stone serve a role analogous to teeth when grinding the sumi ink. Consequently, the produced ink contains particles ranging from fine to coarse. It is through this diverse spectrum of particles that monochromatic suibokuga paintings achieve depth and three-dimensionality.
Color: From an expressive standpoint, a decisive difference between liquid sumi ink and solid sumi ink lies in the fact that commercially available liquid sumi ink does not become darker than its inherent color. A more intense and powerful dark sumi ink can only be achieved with solid sumi ink. Solid sumi ink excels, particularly in portraying the strength and intensity of features like animal eyes. The strength of expression is where solid sumi ink shines.
