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Close up of the Codex Sassoon showing the writing on vellum, a parchment made from animal skin. (Courtesy of Sotheby’s)

At $1,000 a Pop, Why is Japanese Calligraphy Ink so Expensive? (Video)

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In the world of traditional Japanese calligraphy, the ink used is as important as the artist's brush strokes. Sumi ink, made from a solid form and requiring years of production, has been revered for centuries for its unique properties and high quality. However, the cost of this coveted ink can be staggering, with high-grade sticks from some producers fetching over $1,000 for a 200-gram stick. What is the allure of this ancient Japanese tradition and why are people willing to pay so much for a some old ink?

Top image: Japanese calligraphy. Source: Axel Bueckert / Adobe Stock.

By Robbie Mitchell

 

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IronicLyricist's picture

Boycottingas much big tech as i can for their censorship and mismisinfo policies.. however rumble is a decent free sppech competition
If these were on rumble id watch

infinitesimal waveparticles comprise what we call home the earth
manipulatable by thought ability supressed in humans since birth

Robbie Mitchell's picture

Robbie

I’m a graduate of History and Literature from The University of Manchester in England and a total history geek. Since a young age, I’ve been obsessed with history. The weirder the better. I spend my days working as a freelance... Read More

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