She inkstones are famous for their firm, smooth stone and their ability to grind ink without damaging the brush.
Tips
culture
歙砚 is one of the 四大名砚 (four great inkstones), alongside 端砚, 洮砚 and 澄泥砚. The stone is quarried in Shexian and historically Wuyuan (old Shezhou territory), and was first crafted in the Tang Kaiyuan era.
usage
The character 歙 has two readings: xī (to inhale, to gather) and shè (the place name). For 歙砚 and 歙县 it is always shè.
