Hui Ink

Hui Ink

Hui Ink is a protected geographical indication product.

　　One of the Four Treasures of the Study from Anhui, Hui Ink is named after the ancient Huizhou Prefecture, with Jixi as its main production area. Hui Ink enjoys the reputation of "darkening the paper upon application and preserving authenticity for millennia." It features a jet-black luster, no bleeding on paper, enduring colorfastness, a rich fragrance, anti-corrosive and anti-moth properties, elegant shapes, and classic packaging. It is an essential item for calligraphers and painters. With a history that dates back to the Southern Tang Dynasty, flourished during the Song, Ming, and Qing Dynasties, it uses precious raw materials, refined craftsmanship, and superior quality, having been an imperial tribute through the ages.

　　Since its creation in the 47th year of the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty (1782 AD) by Hu Tianzhu from Jixi, the “Hu Kaiwen” brand has a history of over 200 years. In 1910, the “Cangpei Chamber” brand’s “Earth Ink” meticulously produced by the Hu family was exhibited at the Panama–Pacific International Exposition and won a gold medal. The predecessor of the Jixi Hu Kaiwen Hui Ink Factory was the “Original Hu Kaiwen Old Shop,” formed through the public-private partnership of various Hu Kaiwen ink shops and workshops in Jixi. After the merger of the County Painting and Calligraphy Oil Smoke Material Factory and the County Hu Kaiwen Hui Ink Factory in 1998, the factory established an integrated system from smoke refining to finished ink production. The factory includes over ten production processes such as smoke refining, ink making, mold carving, ink drying, polishing, and gold tracing, as well as a fully equipped oil smoke material and ink ingot physicochemical testing center. Premium oil smoke (the best raw material for high-end ink and ink sticks) is made from tung oil (from trees over 600 meters above sea level), pine resin, and precious medicinal herbs (with no chemical components, posing absolutely no harm to humans). Traditional smoke-refining techniques have been employed, inheriting and promoting the essence of Hu Kaiwen’s traditional “lamp-bowl smoke refining” technology, combined with the latest methods, bringing the quality of oil smoke to its historical peak. It is also currently the country’s leading specialized smoke-refining manufacturer. The factory owns over 8,000 precious ink molds created by renowned artists since the Ming and Qing Dynasties, with more than 1,000 varieties. Products are registered under the national trademarks “Cangpei Chamber” and “Hu Family” by the National Trademark Office. From 1983 to 1987, they consecutively won the National Quality Product Gold Award. The Hu Family series products are made with strictly selected materials, fine craftsmanship, and exquisite techniques, using pure oil smoke and 16 kinds of precious ingredients including natural musk. They possess outstanding traditional artistry and a unique artistic style, featuring a jet-black luster, enduring vibrancy, ink-like darkness upon application, glossy finish, improved quality over time, and resistance to cracking or drying. They are essential artisan-crafted works for calligraphy and painting. In 1998, the pure oil smoke Hu Family series products — “Hu Family Oil Smoke Ink,” “Hu Kaiwen Treasure Ink,” “Hu Kaiwen Painting and Calligraphy Ink,” and “Chinese Painting and Calligraphy Ink” — were developed, elevating Hui Ink to its historical pinnacle, possessing significant collectible, artistic, and practical value.