Dimensions: Length:11.4cm; width.8.1cm

Origin: Collected by Zeng Guofan’s Family in 1950s

Inkstone is a kind of writing material made of particularly selected materials such as stone, pottery, jade, iron and wood. This one is made of stone with pine flower designs, an oblong shape, with a bulge spray on the margin. On the back, there are two square seals inscribed with Chinese characters: “Yi Jing Wei Yong, She Yi Yong Nian”(quiet leads to longevity) and “Kang Xi Yu Ming” (Imperial inscription by Emperor Kangxi).

The inkstone was put into a bamboo shaped box which was made of two kinds of yellow mire. It is so fine that we believe that it came from the imperial palace if the inkstone inscription is true. It was collected by Zeng Guofan’s family, and it may be that it was the Qing government’s reward after Zeng suppressed the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom. Zeng Guofan came from Xiangxiang, Hunan Province. He obtained the rank of Presented Scholar(a third degree graduate or a successful candidate in the national civil examination held at the imperial capital) in the Emperor Daoguang’s reign, and became the Governor of Two Jiangs –

Jiangxi and Jiangsu. After his death a posthumous title of Wenzheng was bestowed upon him.