Kōfukuji Nitaibō Koshiki Ink 1.3-chō

¥70,000 JPY

~~¥70,000 JPY~~ ¥70,000 JPY

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Product ID：16498

#Ink/#CommemorativeInk/#SootInk/#NaraInk/#Agloss/#TraditionalCrafts

"Supreme Ink" Made with an Ancient Iron Ink Mold from the Muromachi Period

To commemorate the new "Reiwa" era and the "Nara Ink Designation as a Traditional Craft," Shoyu Online has produced lacquer ink (the finest rapeseed oil soot ink) using our treasured iron ink mold from the Muromachi period, approximately 680 years ago.
While lamp soot ink is the mainstream in modern ink making, it is believed that up until the Heian period, lamp soot ink was produced from pine soot extracted from burning pine trees containing pine resin. Lamp soot ink production began in the Kamakura period and was established in Nara during the Muromachi period.

A timeless "iron ink mold" from approximately 680 years ago

This approximately 680-year-old "iron ink mold," believed to have been used for ink making at Nitaibo, Kofuku-ji Temple in Nara during the Muromachi period, has been passed down through generations of our company since the days of Dai Nippon Ink Co., Ltd. To commemorate the Reiwa era, we have restored the original ink using the finest materials and the finest techniques.
With the cooperation of Nara ink maker Kobaien, a long-established company, we use our treasured "antique iron molds" to produce our ink, combining our own harvested "highest quality rapeseed oil soot" with the now-mysterious "Ajiao" (a glue) to create the ultimate ink.

At Kobaien, we extract soot using the traditional method: placing the finest rapeseed oil in a clay pot in our unique smoke extraction cellar, lighting a rush grass wick, and then covering the pot with a clay cover to extract the soot that has accumulated on the inside.
200 wicks are lit. Since the quality of the soot is determined by the size of the flame and the type of oil, skilled craftsmen are always on hand to ensure that the soot from the 200 flickering flames is evenly distributed. They rotate the pot every 20 minutes, carefully adjusting the heat and the amount of oil to ensure consistent, delicate work.

Ultimate ink making with a focus on soot

The quality of the soot is determined by the thickness of the wick (made by stripping the stalk of rush grass and knotting the wick) and the type of oil used. However, to obtain fine, high-quality soot, a wick (5-6mm thick) originally crafted in four stages is used, reserved for the most exclusive, high-end products.
Wick-making is so difficult that it is said to require one to two years of training just to knot the wick. The tighter and thinner the wick is wound, the finer the particles and the higher-quality soot will be, resulting in a richer ink color. This "supreme ink" is crafted from the finest, fine-grained soot extracted with this skill, time, and effort.

The Ultimate Glue, "Agashio," Known as the Magical Glue

Glue plays an extremely important role in ink-making. In addition to shaping the ink, adjusting viscosity, and fixing the soot, it also has a significant impact on the ink's color and elongation.
The glue used in Japanese ink is obtained by boiling the skin and bones of animals such as cows and horses. However, this "Supreme Ink" uses the finest, legendary "Agashio."
This is an unparalleled, high-quality glue with a thick, transparent texture and a particularly beautiful cross-section.

What is Akyo?

Akyo is extracted from black donkeys in Dong'a County, Shandong Province, China, a region renowned since ancient times for its glue production. Kobaien used the limited stock it had inherited from generations to create this "Supreme Ink."

The Essence of Nara Ink: "Supreme Ink" Created by Kobaien

Kobaien was founded as an ink maker at the end of the Muromachi period.
During the Edo period, when ink-making techniques reached their peak, Kobaien, with permission from the shogunate, engaged in extensive research and exchanges with Chinese ink makers, producing ink of ever higher quality. These techniques are still passed down today. The traditional techniques and manufacturing methods, cultivated over more than 440 years, are the essence of Nara ink.

Ink made using secret techniques passed down through generations

Kobaien continues to use traditional methods in every step of the ink-making process, from collecting smoke to blending, kneading, and drying.
Kobaien is the only company in Japan that produces ink from the soot collection stage, making it truly unique.
The mind-boggling amount of time and effort required is a reflection of our uncompromising commitment to producing authentic, first-class products.

Kobaien's ink is trusted by many artists

The ink created through this extensive process is a reliable product that never disappoints artists.
Crafted with pride, these products inspire artists to create, starting with the preparation of the water for grinding the ink, and paying careful attention to temperature and humidity, as well as how to grind the ink, how to align the inkstone, and the selection of paper.
As the number of people using this convenient "liquid ink" increases year by year, our products have earned the immense trust of artists who love the real thing and seek the ideal ink color that can only be achieved with "ink."

Reviving Muromachi-era Ink: "Nanto Ink Primitive Nitai-bo Ancient Style" Ink Mold

It is said that ink was made at the Nitai-bo of Kofuku-ji Temple from the Nara and Nara periods using soot from lamps offered to Buddha. It is believed that the Muromachi period saw the transition from soot from pine soot, which was the mainstream at the time, to soot from oil soot, which became established.
At the center of this was Kofuku-ji Temple's Nitaibo. The lamp soot ink produced at Kofuku-ji Temple was overwhelmingly superior to the pine soot inks produced up until then in terms of quality, including color, luster, and grinding feel. Its reputation spread throughout the country, and by the Edo period, it was said that "Nara is synonymous with Nara lamp soot."

The lamp soot ink mold (made of iron) produced at Kofuku-ji Temple at that time, which was used in this "Supreme Ink," is said to have been actually used at Kofuku-ji Temple's Nitaibo during the Muromachi period, making it approximately 680 years old. It is said to be the only "Nanto Ink Primitive Nitaibo Ancient Style (made of iron)" ink mold that still exists in its original form.

This exquisite inkstick, crafted with the finest materials and manufacturing techniques, is available exclusively on Shoyu Online, in 25 sachets.

This exquisite piece combines the unique ink mold used at the Nitaibo temple of Kofuku-ji Temple during the Muromachi period, the finest soot, the finest glue, and the techniques of Kobaien, a long-established inkstick maker founded over 440 years ago.
To commemorate the "Reiwa Era" and the "designation of Nara inkstick as a traditional craft," only 25 sachets will be sold as part of a Shoyu Online special.

This extremely rare inkstick mold, said to be the only one of its kind in Japan, was made during the Muromachi period, approximately 680 years ago.

The Supreme Ingredient: Ejiao

Ejiao is a high-quality glue used in very few ink sticks, and this luxurious ink stick is made from lamp black, a type of high-quality soot.

The Essence of Inkstone Making: "Kobaien"

Established 400 years ago, this long-established inkstone maker has been supported by many artists for its techniques and manufacturing methods cultivated since the Muromachi period.