Regulation and Vitality: The Paradigm and Transformation of Longwei Inkstone Production in the Song Dynasty
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Abstract
This study examines the Longwei inkstone of the Song Dynasty from the perspectives of flourishing conditions, production paradigm, and historical transformation. First, the literati trend of inkstone collecting, the cultural appreciation of ornamental stones, and the rise of local educational and cultural hubs under the imperial examination system jointly established the craft foundation of Longwei inkstone production during the Northern and Southern Song periods. Second, within a distinctive “state-community synergy” production framework, governmental authorities standardized tribute inkstone manufacturing, while private workshops promoted personalized artistry, market circulation, and brand consciousness. Third, although Longwei inkstones were already valued as rare objects during the Song Dynasty, they underwent a post-Song reified transformation from active instruments of scholastic production into semi-sacred relics of antiquity. This transformation marks a shift from functional utility in living literati culture to symbolic heritage status. Based on textual evidence, historical records, and material examples, the research presents a diachronic case of traditional Chinese craft evolution and provides a historical perspective for studying ancient production organization and craft-technology culture.
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