The process

The entire ink-making process starts with collecting soot. This involves burning wood or oil and condensing the smoke to collect the resulting carbon powder, known as carbon black, which gives the ink its dark color.

The quality of the soot directly affects the quality of the ink. However, in modern times, due to considerations of cost and environmental impact, most ink manufacturers have replaced natural carbon black with industrial carbon black, which still produces consistent results.

Then, the focus shifted to glue-making. The glue acts as a binding agent. In ancient times, to make ink portable and durable, ink makers initially mixed it with lacquer to form ink balls. However, ink mixed with lacquer hardened over time, becoming so tough that it would often damage the inkstones. Later, people discovered that animal gelatin glue — made from repeatedly boiling pig or cow hides and bones — was a better binder. When mixed with soot, it prevents the ink from hardening over time.

Today, gelatin glue has been mass manufactured by specialized plants by boiling animal bones down to small hard balls, which need to be cooked by ink makers.

It has been a demanding job to grasp the cooking process, especially controlling the fire, which is critical to producing quality ink. This skill can only be passed down through personal instructions by experienced masters.

Even in the modern age, an experienced ink maker has to stand guard over the glue boiler.

"It takes six hours to melt the glue, and the master must keep a close watch on the hot pot, just like cooking porridge. If it melts too much, it will become too watery, and if it doesn't melt enough, it won't blend well with carbon black and other ingredients," Wei says.