Rubbings and Sketches of Inkstones Collected by Yashiro Hirokata

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Inkstones are three-dimensional objects, but their shapes and the letters and images engraved into them can be reproduced on paper in rubbings and sketched copies. Here we introduce a catalog of inkstones in the form of a scrapbook titled Rinchi's Illustrated Compendium of Inkstones (rinchidō kenpu), produced by Yashiro Hirokata (1759-1841; pen name: Rinchi), a classical scholar and book collector of the early modern period.

Rinchi's Illustrated Compendium of Inkstones

Kaga Collection 5205

[Image]Rinchi's Illustrated Compendium of Inkstones

Shinobazu Bunko: Ownership Stamp of Yashiro Hirokata

[Image]Shinobazu Bunko: Ownership Stamp of Yashiro Hirokata

Yashiro Hirokata (1758-1841; pen name: Rinchi) was a vassal of the Shogun and classical scholar who produced Rinchi's Illustrated Compendium of Inkstones, which contains copies of around 180 different inkstones. There is great diversity in this compendium, ranging from completely unknown inkstones to highly treasured ones some of which have been preserved since ancient times in Buddhist temples. Yashiro Hirokata is known particularly as an erudite reader and collector of books. His collection, the Shinobazu Bunko, is said to be one of the most extensive of the Edo Period.

Asakura Yoshikage's Inkstone

[Image]Asakura Yoshikage's Inkstone

One of the inkstones in Rinchi's Illustrated Compendium of Inkstones belonged to Asakura Yoshikage (1533-1573), the lord of Echizen in the Warring States Period who was defeated by Oda Nobunaga (1534-1582). The original stone was preserved in Honnō-ji Temple in Kyoto. The stone is also recorded in the Stationery chapter of the compendium titled Collection of Treasures in 10 Categories (shūko jisshu) published in1800 which covers a total of ten categories of cultural treasures and was compiled by Matsudaira Sadanobu. Yashiro Hirokata himself was also involved in producing this compendium.

Chōdeiken and Other Inkstones

[Image]Chōdeiken and Other Inkstones

The Shūko Jisshu includes the chōdeiken, an ancient inkstone that was among the few dating from the Tang Dynasty (618-907). It was owned by calligrapher Nakamura Butsuan (1751-1834) who, like Yashiro Hirokata, was a member of the Tanki-kai, a group that studied old wares.
Rinchi's Illustrated Compendium of Inkstones also contains a copy of an inkstone owned by Yashiro's colleague, a vassal of the Shogun named Kondō Takaaki (1746-unknown).

Duanxi Seven-Starred Inkstone

[Image]Duanxi Seven-Starred Inkstone 1

[Image]Duanxi Seven-Starred Inkstone 2

Inkstones produced using stone from the Chinese province of Duanxi were especially highly prized since the Song Dynasty, and many of these are recorded in Rinchi's Illustrated Compendium of Inkstones. One of the most exquisite of all is the seven-starred inkstone of Duanxi, which uses a naturally occurring pattern in Duanxi stone to create an image of seven stars.

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