砚为文房用具之一,被称为“文房四宝”之首,集书法、绘画、雕刻诸艺术为一体。砚,浓缩了中国各个朝代文化、经济乃至审美意识的各种信息。加之由于其质地坚固,传百世而不朽,是历代文人作为珍玩藏品之首选,古砚台由实用品升华为艺术品。砚,是从原始社会的研磨器具发展而来,为研制色料的工具,又称砚台、砚田、墨池、墨海、墨盘。自古以来,制砚的用材种类丰富多样,极为广泛,有玉、银、铜、铁、陶、瓷、石、漆、瓦、水晶、象牙、竹、木等几十种。 Inkstone is one of the room appliances, known as the “Four Treasures”, the first set of calligraphy, painting, sculpture and other arts as a whole. Yan, condensed all the Chinese culture, economy and aesthetic awareness of various information. In addition, due to its solid texture, spreading the world and immortality, is the first choice of literary collection as a treasure, the ancient ink stone sublimation from the utility for the works of art. Inkstone is from the primitive society of grinding apparatus developed from the development of color tools, also known as Yantai, Yantian, Mochi, Mexico Sea, Mexico plate. Since ancient times, the system of inkstone is diversified and widely used. There are dozens of jade, silver, copper, iron, pottery, porcelain, stone, paint, tile, crystal, ivory, bamboo and wood.