A Duan inkstone is the traditional Chinese inkstone made from stone quarried in Guangdong.
Duan inkstones are produced from stone associated with Duanxi in Guangdong province. Their fine, dense surface is valued for grinding an ink stick with water into liquid ink. Particular varieties may show natural markings, colors, or formations that increase their artistic and collector appeal.
An inkstone was one of the Four Treasures of the Study, alongside the brush, ink, and paper. It was therefore both a practical tool for calligraphy and painting and an object that could receive elaborate carving. A good stone needs a suitable grinding surface: too coarse, too soft, or too porous a material would affect the ink.
Duan is one of the major named Chinese inkstone traditions. She inkstones come from Anhui, Tao inkstones from Gansu, and Chengni inkstones are fired from molded clay rather than quarried stone. These distinctions make the material’s origin important.