25 × 25 × 6 cm
2008

Carved from the Kengziyan vein of the Duanxi quarry—first mined in the Northern Song dynasty—this inkstone is prized for its moist, delicate texture and intricate natural markings, including stone eyes, blue flowers, and fire spots.

The original piece was created in May 2008 as an official state gift: it was presented by Chinese President Hu Jintao to Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda during Hu’s visit to Japan. The work shown here is a sample from that distinguished creation.