Inkstick

Inkstick
An old Chinese inkstick made in the form of lotus leaves and flowers.
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	墨
Simplified Chinese	墨
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin mò IPA mu̯ɔ⁵¹ Yue: Cantonese Jyutping mak6 IPA mɐk̚²
Alternative Chinese name
Traditional Chinese	墨條
Simplified Chinese	墨条
Transcriptions Standard Mandarin Hanyu Pinyin mòtiáo IPA mu̯ɔ⁵¹ tʰi̯ɑʊ̯³⁵ Yue: Cantonese Jyutping mak6 tiu4
Vietnamese name
Vietnamese alphabet	mực tàu mực thỏi
Hán-Nôm	墨艚 墨鋑
Korean name
Hangul	먹
Transcriptions Revised Romanization meok
Japanese name
Kanji	墨
Kana	すみ
Transcriptions Romanization sumi

Inksticks (Chinese: 墨; pinyin: mò^ⓘ) or ink cakes are a type of solid Chinese ink used traditionally in several Chinese and East Asian art forms such as calligraphy and brush painting. Inksticks are made mainly of soot and animal glue, sometimes with incense or medicinal scents added. To make ink, the inkstick is ground against an inkstone with a small quantity of water to produce a dark liquid which is then applied with an ink brush. By adjusting the strength and duration of the ink grinding process, artists and calligraphers may adjust the concentration of the produced ink to suit their tastes.

Along with the inkstone, ink brush, and paper, the inkstick is considered one of the Four Treasures of the Study of classical Chinese literary culture.