Tosa Inkstones (Tosa suzuri) are inkstones made in Mihara Village, Hata District, in southwestern Kochi Prefecture. The raw stone is a bluish-black black slate called Mihara stone (Mihara-ishi), characterized by its fine, even grain. Among calligraphers, it is valued as an inkstone on which ink grinds down smoothly and shows a beautiful color. It is said that in the Muromachi period, the court noble Ichijo Norifusa, who came down from Kyoto to Tosa to escape the Onin War, found a fine inkstone stone and used it with fondness. Afterwards, the source of the stone was lost, and it came to be regarded as a 'phantom inkstone stone.' In 1966 (Showa 41), the calligrapher 新谷健吉 rediscovered the stone, and production began. Today, 三原硯石加工生産組合 (Mihara Inkstone Processing and Production Cooperative) in the village handles production. In 1986 it was registered as a trademark under the name 'Meiseki Tosa Tankei Tosa Suzuri' (Famous Stone: Tosa Tankei, Tosa Inkstone), and it is now a traditional specialty product of Kochi Prefecture.
Origin
The origins of the Tosa Inkstone are said to date back to around the time of the Onin War in the Muromachi period. A record is said to survive stating that in 1468 (Onin 2), the court noble Ichijo Norifusa, who came down from Kyoto to Tosa to escape the fighting, found a fine inkstone stone and used it with fondness. However, the location of the raw stone was later lost, and for a long time it was called the 'phantom inkstone stone.' The story of Norifusa is passed down as a legend, and the details are not clear.
History
In 1966 (Showa 41), the calligrapher 新谷健吉 rediscovered the inkstone stone in Mihara Village. This led to the start of inkstone making, which grew into a local industry of the village. Production is handled by 三原硯石加工生産組合 in the village, and in 1986 the inkstone was registered as a trademark under the name 'Meiseki Tosa Tankei Tosa Suzuri.' Tankei (Duanxi) is the name of a renowned Chinese inkstone stone, and the name likens the Tosa stone to it. Today it is a traditional specialty product of Kochi Prefecture.
Features
The raw Mihara stone is a black slate taken from a geological zone called the Shimanto Belt. Research by Kochi University and others estimates the age of the strata as Middle Eocene to Early Miocene, and identifies the main minerals as muscovite and quartz. Copper-colored grains called kinboshi ('golden stars') can be seen in the stone and enhance the inkstone's appearance. The surface of the inkstone has a microscopic step-like structure, which is thought to contribute to how easily ink can be ground.
Techniques
Hobo and ink production (hatsuboku)
The surface of an inkstone has extremely fine irregularities called hobo, which serve to grind down the ink stick. A study that precisely cut and observed a Tosa Inkstone confirmed irregularities a few microns in width and height. The dense structure of the stone is thought to produce these fine, closely packed hobo.
Koban-shaped carving
At 三原硯石加工生産組合, skilled craftsmen carve the raw stone into the traditional oval koban shape. Some inkstones come with a stone lid that makes the most of the beauty of the raw stone, so the stone's appearance can be enjoyed even when the inkstone is not in use.
Materials Used
| Main Production Areas |
|
|---|
Artisans & Workshops
三原硯石加工生産組合
A cooperative with a workshop in Mihara Village that makes Tosa Inkstones from Mihara stone quarried in the village. In addition to hand-carved, koban-shaped inkstones with lids, it also produces items such as a portable inkstone that holds an inkstone, ink stick and brush in a smartphone case.
How to Buy
- Mail order (Serai)
- The mail-order service of the magazine Serai lists 三原硯石加工生産組合's 'Koban-shaped Natural Inkstone with Lid' (小判型蓋つき天然硯) at 43,780 yen and the portable 'Smartphone Inkstone' (スマホ硯) at 30,800 yen (both tax included). Prices are subject to change.Where to buy →PR
- Mihara Village furusato nozei
- Through Mihara Village's furusato nozei (hometown tax donation) program, a set of a Tosa Inkstone and 土佐まき和紙 (a round type, 9 cm in diameter) is offered for a donation of 48,000 yen. There are also listings of an inkstone on its own as a return gift for 38,000 yen. Contents and donation amounts are subject to change.Where to buy →PR
FAQ
Q. What does 'Tosa Tankei' mean?
A. Tankei (Duanxi) is a renowned inkstone stone produced in China and has long been a byword for a good inkstone. The Tosa Inkstone was registered as a trademark in 1986 under the name 'Meiseki Tosa Tankei Tosa Suzuri.' The name expresses that it is a famous stone of Tosa by likening it to Tankei.
Q. What are the golden grains seen in Tosa Inkstones?
A. Mihara stone contains copper-colored grains called kinboshi, which enhance the inkstone's appearance. A study published in the Journal of the Geological Society of Japan in 2023 reported, based on X-ray analysis, that the main mineral of kinboshi is not copper but pyrite.