culture
Quarried since the Tang dynasty from Duanxi (端溪) in Zhaoqing (肇庆), Guangdong. Prized for its fine-grained stone that grinds ink smoothly without wearing the brush. Collectors look for 'eyes' (石眼, natural mineral inclusions) - particularly 活眼 (live eyes) with concentric rings - as marks of quality and rarity.
