Cultural and Creative Bookmark – Ceramic Tag, Ink Essence

 

At your desk, under the lamp, a bookmark accompanies you through every evening as you immerse yourself in knowledge. The bookmark is an elderly companion who has quietly stood by countless scholars throughout history, watching them read late into the night and tirelessly pen their thoughts. Now, this venerable elder is eager to share his story with you—slowly and gently.

 

 

The Origin of Bookmarks

Zhengzi Tong • The "Bamboo Section" mentions “ Sign, same sign. ” The work "written by Xu Shen of the Eastern Han Dynasty" Explaining the Words and Analyzing the Characters 》 In, to “Sign” Character-based interpretation ： “ A "qian" is a test or verification. It is also called "ruì," meaning sharp or penetrating. It is composed of the radical "bamboo" and the phonetic component "yuan." ” In the "Great Chinese Dictionary" The character “签” has two interpretations: it can be understood as: The ivory tags used for book scrolls and painted scroll covers are often hung beside the scrolls; they are also called "tooth picks." It can also be interpreted as “a marker consisting of bamboo or paper strips inscribed with textual symbols.” Though these two interpretations seem quite different, they actually reflect the evolution of ancient book markers. During the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods, book markers were called so because they were made from ivory. “Ya Li,” also written as “Ya Qian.” As bookbinding styles evolved from scrolls to folded volumes, bookmarks came to be strips of paper or ribbon affixed to the cover. 。

 

 

Bookmarks in Poetry

We can always find it in the writings of ancient scholars. The silhouette of a bookmark Du Fu wrote in his poem: “ The pen rest is touched by rain on the window, and the bookmark reflects a faint glow through the crack. ” ; Su Shi puts brush to paper :“ The rain dims the stone inkstone, and cloudy hues chill the air; the wind stirs toothpicks, and leaves rustle in disarray. ” As you can see, bookmarks hold just as much importance in the hearts of literati and refined scholars as brushes, ink, paper, and inkstones. The moment you open a book and your eyes fall upon a freehand ink painting, you’ll find yourself naturally settling down to savor the unique charm of the words themselves.

 

Two Poems Inscribed on the Wall of the Mountain Dwelling of Brothers Bai Da

Tang ·Du Fu

My uncle, Zhu Men, is noble and distinguished; my young master, Yu Shu, stands tall and graceful. Living in the mountains, he devotes himself to classic texts, his elegance and refinement reaching even the heights of poetic artistry.

Jianghan will be my home till old age; in the misty woods, I’ll find companions like you. The mournful strings of my zither echo amidst the pure white snow—yet I’ve never touched them with the hands of common folk.

Wild waters flow in the Yeya style, and mountain fences are veiled by faint clouds. Quietness seems to extend even to tiger dens; the clamor has already faded away from human crowds.

The pen rest is touched by rain on the window, and the bookmark reflects a faint glow through the crack. The swift feet travel a thousand miles, each bearing intricate, colorful patterns.

 

“Thirty Poems on the Garden and Pond of Yangchuan, Inscribed on a Book Pavilion” by He Wen Yu Ke

Song ·Su Shi

The rain dims the stone inkstone, and cloudy hues chill the air; the wind stirs toothpicks, and leaves rustle in disarray.

Under the courtyard, ribbon grass has already sprouted—could it be that the magistrate is Zheng Kangcheng?

 

 

 

 

Eight Great Mountains Man Ceramic Bookmark

The Eight Great Mountains Man Memorial Hall has created a series of ink-wash-style ceramic bookmarks centered around the works of the Eight Great Mountains Man, making them more distinctive than traditional bookmarks. In terms of craftsmanship, these ink-wash-style ceramic bookmarks undergo two high-temperature firings to enhance their durability and reduce fragility. In terms of design, they are sized to suit common usage habits, providing a more comfortable and enjoyable user experience. Dedicated to faithfully capturing the rich ink tones found in the Eight Great Mountains Man’s brushwork, these ink-wash-style bookmarks combine artistic appeal with practicality, making them perfect for collecting or as thoughtful gifts.

 

 

 

 

Four bookmark styles—there’s bound to be one that’s perfect for you!

The "Double Magpies on a Large Stone Scroll" depicts one magpie perched atop a stone and another standing at the base of the stone, each pair gazing at the other in a vivid and lifelike manner.

 

 

 

 

The "Ink Lotus Painting Scroll" features tall, upright stems and leaves arranged in an elegant, staggered pattern, with clusters of ink brushstrokes partially concealing the lotus flowers.

 

 

 

 

The “Five-Verse Regulated Verse Scroll in Running Script” flows smoothly and naturally with each brushstroke, completed in one continuous motion.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The “Scroll of Flowers, Rocks, and Swimming Fish” features intertwined shadows of flowers and leaves, with long stems stretching into the distance. The swimming fish, paired in twos, playfully frolic in the water, exuding a lively and endearing charm.

 

 

 

 

 

The ingenious fusion of Bada Shanren’s artworks with ceramic bookmarks brings you a delightful reading experience. Within these books lies the vast universe; within them, the essence of ink and brush. Bada Shanren’s freehand ink-and-wash ceramic bookmarks accompany you on your journey through the sea of books.

 

 

Purchase link: 3:/ X@m.da 01/24 [Eight Great Mountains Man Ceramic Bookmark—Seal Series Bookmarks] Long-press to copy this message, open Douyin and search to view product details ##8TGrzAXPwI8## [Douyin Passcode]

 

 

Written by: Hu Xinrui

Photography: Liu Sun

Layout: Hu Strange

Issued by: Lü Xiang