Along with the inkstone, ink brush, and paper, the inkstick is considered one of the Four Treasures of the Study of classical Chinese literary culture.

The mineral origins of Chinese inks were discussed by the Eastern Han dynasty calligrapher, politician, and writer Xu Shen (許慎, 58 – c. 147).

However, these early inks, up to the Qin dynasty, were likely stored in liquid or powdered forms that have not been well preserved and thus their existence and constitution can only be studied from painted objects and artifacts.

[1] Physical proof for these first "modern" Chinese soot and animal glue inks were found in archaeological excavations of tombs dated to the end of the Warring States period around 256 BC.

[1] One of the first literary records of inkstick production in Japan is from qimin yaoshu (齊民要術)[2] written during the Northern Wei dynasty.

Elaboration of the techniques, technical requirements, and ingredients were also noted in scroll ten of yunlu manchao (雲麓漫鈔)[3] and the "ink" chapter of tiangong kaiwu (天工開物), the notable Ming dynasty encyclopedia by Song Yingxing (宋應星).

Badly made inksticks will crack or craze due to inadequate kneading, imprecise soot to glue ratio, or uneven drying.