Yin Zhangshi of Qingtian Stone

Qingtian Stone, one of the four traditional Yin Zhangshi in China, belongs to pyrophyllite and is produced in qingtian county, southern Zhejiang. Qingtian county has always had the evaluation of "nine mountains, half water and half fields", and all the towns in the county, such as Yamaguchi, Fangshan, Zhoucun and Tanggu, produce metamorphic rocks formed by volcanic melting, such as Fengmenqing in Yamaguchi, Dengguangdong and Golden Kiln, which are the top grades of Yin Shi. Qingtian stone is waxy, oily and glassy, not transparent, slightly transparent or translucent, with solid and delicate texture, moist and greasy, rich colors, peculiar patterns and easy seal cutting. Qingtian stone was excavated as early as the Six Dynasties. In the Song Dynasty, there were many kinds of excavation and utilization, which were mostly used to make "seals and playthings for literati"; In the Ming Dynasty, with the absolute superiority of stone printing materials gradually replacing gold, jade, copper and teeth, and Peng's "favor" in the late Ming Dynasty, Qingtian stone became famous as a top grade. In modern times, Qingtian stone began to enter the stage of comprehensive utilization, not only for craft production, but also for industry, and it was mainly practical, with stationery, stone tablets, incense burners and Buddha statues for learning.