The Timeless Beauty of The Japanese Traditional Sumi Ink by KOBAIEN (古梅園): Yuenboku & Kinmakizumi

A special exhibition will be held at a physical store at Shizendo in Kyoto!

In this second exhibition, we will introduce "Kinmakizumi Ink" by KOBAIEN in Nara.

Before the exhibition, we visited the workshop and talked to the owner about the method of making sumi ink and "Kinmakizumi Ink” which is a sumi ink coated with gold leaf.

In this Magazine we will be conveying the charm of Sumi Ink in two articles: 1. 油煙墨(Yuenboku) and 金巻墨 (Kinmakizumi), and 2. About the commitment to manufacturing and the state of the workshop.

What is Yuenboku?

Yuenboku is a Japanese traditional calligraphy ink stick, originally made from the soot produced by burning pure vegetable oil and is hardened by mixing it with glue and
fragrance.

Let's take a look at the manufacturing method for oil smoke ink.

[Smoke Gathering] The creation of Yuenboku starts with gathering soot produced by burning pure vegetable oil and is hardened by mixing it with glue and fragrance.
Let's take a look at the manufacturing process)

[Blending/Kneading] The soot is thoroughly kneaded together with glue and fragrance using its entire weight.

[Molding] The kneaded ink is placed in a wooden mold and strongly pressed. In this process, the emboss is applied to the surface. The wooden molds date back to the Edo period and are still in use today.

[Drying] The ink removed from the wooden mold takes a very long time to dry. For the Sumi ink to completely dry to the core, the ink is covered with oak tree ash called “Bokuhai'' and approximately 70% of the water will be removed in this process.

The remaining 30% is left to dry naturally for at least five years, by hanging the sumi ink on the ceiling with woven straw.

[Polishing] The surface of the ink is polished to a beautiful mirror-like surface using clam shells.

[Finishing] Gold powder, silver powder, and pigments are used to create a vivid finish on the sumi ink.

What is Kinmakizumi?

As the name suggests, this ink is wrapped in gold leaf. Despite being wrapped in gold, the gold itself remains invisible when used for drawing, revealing only the true sumi ink color. Praised for its quality, it shines on traditional Japanese papers like Ganpi and Torinoko.

Ultra-thin gold leaf (1/10,000mm) flawlessly highlights intricate text and patterns on textured ink surfaces, creating stunning results.

Initially brought over from China, back then the sumi ink was crafted in a round form with a focus on functionality. Over time, people began to appreciate the embossed patterns on the sumi ink, to calm their minds by looking at the characters carved on the sumi ink, and also to use the sumi ink itself.

Additionally, Kinmakizumi is considered to be 'unchangeable', and due to its high value and appearance, it is used as a distinction for high-quality products and is also treated as a high-end gift.

Wrapping a gold leaf also serves to protect the ink from changes in humidity. Not only does it look gorgeous, but it also has a practical effect.

In the second part of this article, we will report on the condition and the vicinity of the workshop.