One of the four famous inkstones in China, it is the same name as Guangdong Duanyan, Anhui Yanyan and Chengni Inkstone, and is called China's four famous inkstones.
The production of Tao inkstone has a history of more than 1,300 years. It is produced in Taoyan Township, Zhuoni County, Gannan Prefecture, Gansu Province. Tao inkstone is famous at home and abroad for its stone color turquoise, elegant and rare, firm and fine, crystal like jade, silent button, water droplets, fast ink without damage, and ink storage for a long time without drying up, and has always been a treasure of the elegant room of the court, a treasure of literati and inkers, a gift for relatives and friends, and a strange item in the antique inventory. Generations of literati, scholars, calligraphers and painters were amazed by the poetry of Tao Yan Fu Ming.
Liu Gongquan of the Tang Dynasty [3] The "On Yan" recorded: "Qingzhou is the first, Jiangzhou is second, and the latter is the beginning, the second is the beginning, and the linzhao." Zhao Xihu, a famous connoisseur of the Northern Song Dynasty, wrote "Dongtian Qinglu Collection" Yun: "In addition to the two stones of Duan and Xiao, only the green stone of the Tao River, the most precious in the north, green as blue, moist as jade, ink does not reduce the inkstone under the Duanxi, but the stone is at the bottom of the deep water of the big river, not caused by manpower, it is a priceless treasure."
Su Shi and Huang Tingjian, the great writers of the Song Dynasty, praised Tao Yan: "Wash the stone, send gold and iron, and make it strong, "Long heard of the green head of the Minshi duck head, can sharpen the Guixi dragon sword, do not suspect that the literary officials do not make martial arts, they must make the frost and autumn rabbit milli". Contemporary calligraphy master Zhao Puchu inscribed a poem: "The wind ripple divides the green of Taozhou, and the strength is like bronze and moist as jade".