Kin’s Chinese Ink

Sumi (Chinese Ink) (墨)

Sumi refers to soot derived from substances such as lampblack or burnt pine, solidified by mixing with gelatin (solid sumi). It also refers to a black liquid made by grinding solid sumi with water against an ink stone. It is used for calligraphy and painting.

Liquid sumi ink is a colloidal suspension of amorphous carbon. Sumi sold commercially in this state is called bokuju (liquid sumi ink) or sumijiru (liquid sumi ink). Unlike ancient sumi, chemically synthesized substances are used as main ingredients in some cases of bokuju.