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Duan inkstones are extremely solid, smooth and fine, and is said to be the most valuable type of inkstones. The ink that is grinded from Duan inkstones are usually of high quality, is easy to write with and long-lasting.

During the Song Dynasty, the emperor commanded that the government officials from Guangdong are not to bring the Duan stone into the capital without prior authorisation, showing how valuable the stone is.]]>
Before pine soot ink was widely used, ink was usually made out of natural compositions like graphite (石墨). However, producing pine soot inks requires chopping down thicker and stronger pine trees, creating damage for the natural environment]]>
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The inventor of liquid ink, Taguchi Seiji, was a teacher from Japan, and in order to motivate young children to practice calligraphy, he invented liquid ink in order to make writing easier and more convenient.]]>