硯亦稱為研，與筆、墨、紙合稱中國傳統(tǒng)的文房四寶，是中國書法繪畫當中必不可少的文房用具，由于其性質堅固，傳百世而不朽，又經過長時間的歷史發(fā)展，硯臺已早已不再是單純的文具，而成為了集雕刻，繪畫于一身的工藝美術品，成為文人墨客爭相收藏的對象。
Inkstone, also known as Yan, is called the four treasures of Chinese traditional literature, which is indispensable in Chinese calligraphy and painting. Inkstone is no longer a simple stationery, but a combination of sculpture and painting. Art and art works have become the object of collection by literati and ink-writers.
硯臺雖然在“筆墨紙硯”的排次中位居最后，但從收藏和流傳及文化內涵方面來說，卻居首要地位，有“文房四寶”硯為首之說。這是由于不僅硯臺質地堅實、能傳之數(shù)代的緣故，而且硯臺集中了雕塑、書畫、金石、文學、歷史等文化藝術，內涵最為豐富。所以，現(xiàn)今社會上“文房四寶”中以硯最為多見，也受到廣泛范圍也最為。
Although inkstone is the last in the ranking of "pen, ink, paper and inkstone", it occupies the first place in terms of collection, dissemination and cultural connotation, with "four treasures of the study" as the first one. This is because not only the inkstone is of solid texture and can be passed on for generations, but also the inkstone concentrates on sculpture, painting, stone, literature, history and other cultural arts, with the richest connotation. Therefore, inkstone is the most common among the "four treasures of study" in today's society, and it is also the most widely used.
中國最早的硯臺是什么時候產生的?考古學家曾在陜西省臨潼縣姜寨一處原始社會的遺址中，發(fā)現(xiàn)了一套原始人用以陶器彩繪的工具，其中有一方石硯，硯有蓋，硯面微凹，凹處并有一根石質磨杵，硯旁留存數(shù)塊黑色顏料。很顯然，這是先民們借助磨杵研磨顏料的早期硯的形制，其主要功用是研磨彩繪陶器的顏料。
When did China's earliest inkstone platform come into being? Archaeologists once found a set of tools for pottery paintings by primitive people in a primitive society site in Jiangzhai, Lintong County, Shaanxi Province, including a stone inkstone with a cover, a slight concave inkstone surface, concave with a stone grinder, and several pieces of black pigments left beside the inkstone. Obviously, this is the early form of inkstone that the ancestors used to grind pigments by grinding pestles. Its main function is to grind pigments of painted pottery.
宋代石硯的主要式樣是抄手硯，樸素大方，實用雅觀。明清時期端石、歙石獨領風騷，特別是明末以后，制硯不僅逐漸著重精雕細刻，而且還非常講究硯石的色澤、文采、聲音、嫩潤及年代、石坑、題銘等，許多硯已由實用品轉為藝術欣賞品。河南博物院作為中原地區(qū)一座大型綜合性國家級博物館，收藏的硯臺不僅數(shù)量多，而且多有明確的出土信息和征集地域，是重要的斷代標準器，現(xiàn)擇一些有代表性的硯作以介紹。
The main style of stone inkstone in Song Dynasty is handwriting inkstone, simple and generous, practical and elegant. Duanshi and Heshi were the leading figures in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Especially after the end of Ming Dynasty, inkstone making not only gradually focused on fine carving, but also paid great attention to the color, literary grace, voice, tenderness and age, stone pits, inscriptions and so on. Many inkstones have been converted from practical works to art appreciation works. Henan Museum, as a large comprehensive state-level Museum in Central Plains, not only has a large number of inkstones, but also has clear unearthed information and collection area. It is an important standard instrument for dating. Some representative inkstones are selected for introduction.
四大名硯中包括了端硯、歙硯、澄泥硯。從裝飾上集中了雕塑、書畫、金石、文學、歷史等文化藝術，內涵最豐富，基本上反映了中國古代硯臺發(fā)展脈絡，加上多數(shù)硯有詳細的出土地點和征集地域，更增添了這些硯的中原地域文化信息，承載著中原文明和歷史載體，成為中華文明發(fā)展歷史長河的重要文化見證。
Four famous inkstones include Duan Inkstone, She Inkstone and Chengmu Inkstone. From the decoration, it concentrates on the culture and art of sculpture, calligraphy and painting, stone, literature, history and so on. Its connotation is the richest. It basically reflects the development vein of ancient Chinese inkstones. In addition, most inkstones have detailed land-leaving sites and collecting areas, which adds the regional cultural information of these inkstones and carries the civilization and historical carrier of the Central Plains. It has become an important cultural witness of the long history of the development of Chinese civilization.
