Investigation of the manufacture development of early Chinese ink in the Western Han dynasty

Chinese ink, generally produced in a stick form, was often like pellets before the Western Han dynasty (202 bce-8 ce) according to literary records and a few archaeological discoveries. However, their composition and manufacture have not been scientifically analysed to date. In this study, the ink pellets roughly dated to 2000 years ago from two royal tombs of the Han dynasty (the Nanyue King's tomb and the Marquis of Haihun's tomb) were analyzed by micro-/non-destructive methods, including synchrotron radiation-based micro-computed tomography (SR-mu CT), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry (Py-GC/MS). The results reveal that they were made from pine soot, and the production technology of the later Haihun ink was more complex than that of the earlier Nanyue King ink. The microstructure of the ink pellets indicated that some kind of glue should be used in the Haihun ink, which is the earliest case of glue addition. Moreover, plant extracts, including borneol and cedar oil, were detected in the Haihun ink, reflecting another aspect of progress in ink production history. These technical breakthroughs imply that the Western Han dynasty is a critical period for the development of traditional ink manufacture, and the shape transformation of Chinese ink is closely related to the evolution of ink production technology during this specific period.

Automated summary

This study analyzed ink pellets from Han dynasty tombs dating back approximately 2000 years ago using micro-/non-destructive methods. The results revealed that the ink pellets were made from pine soot and that the production technology of the later ink was more complex than the earlier ink. The microstructure of the ink pellets indicated the use of glue in the later ink and plant extracts were also detected, reflecting advancements in ink production history.