(Qinding) Xiqing yanshuo (欽定)西清硯譜

(Qinding) Xiqing yanpu (欽定)西清硯譜 is a book on ink-stones compiled on imperial order under the supervision of Yu Minzhong 于敏中 (1714-1779) and Liang Guozhi 梁國治 (1723-1786). The illustrations were created by Men Yingzhao 門應兆 (fl. 1787).

Figure 1. Han-period ink-stone of ceramic

Ceramic ink-stone found in the Eastern Hall (Dongge 東閣) of the Weiyang Palace 未央宮 of the Han dynasty 漢 (206 BCE-220 CE). Upper side to the right, lower side in the middle, and a transcription of the original inscription on the left side. The original Siku quanshu 四庫全書 edition reproduced the ink-stone with a scale of 6:10.

Figure 2. Ink-stone once owned by Zhu Yizun 朱彝尊

The shape is said to imitate the traditional well-field system, upper side to the right, and the bottom side on the left. The reproduction scale in the original book is 8:10.

The book has a length of of 25 juan. The first part (juan 1-6) is dedicated to ceramic ink-stones from the Han to the Ming period 明 (1368-1644). The next section (juan 7-21) includes ink-stones made of various stone materials, the oldest dating from the Jin period 晉 (265-420), while the youngest one had been owned by Zhu Yizun 朱彝尊 (1629-1709). The last two fascicles are a kind of supplement.

The book is thus an ideal overview of the history of ink-stones and shows materials and shapes through the ages. Each illustration is described like in an exhibition catalogue, and inscriptions , imprints and dedications are reproduced, as is the history of the item – as far as known.

The book is included in the imperial series Siku quanshu.