砚文化及其在中国文明史中的地位

砚是我国特有的书写工具之一，砚化是我国古老深邃玉化的重要组成部分和分支。砚发端于新石器时代。我国砚石资源丰富，有130余种，真正意义上的砚出现于秦国早期，汉至唐、宋、元时期，制砚业为发展繁荣期，明、清为发展辉煌期。砚在我国古老明史中具有重要的作用和价值，推动了社会明史、艺术史、礼乐史及经济、科技史等方面的发展进程，是揭示社会历史发展规律的重要信息载体。

The Culture of Inkstone and the Status in Chinese Civilization History

Inkstone is the unique tool for writing in China, and the culture of inkstone is an important component and embranchment of the jade culture. Inkstone originated in Neolithic age. The resources of the inkstone are very abundant and there are about 130 sorts of inkstones in China. The inkstone in deed came forth in the early stage of Qin Dynasty. It developed and flourished in the Han, Tang, Song and Yuan Dynasties, in the Ming and Qing Dynasties the inkstone industry reached its splendid peak. With an important function and value, the inkstone promoted the process of the civilization history, the fine arts history, the amenity history, the economics history and the technology history. It goes without saying that the inkstone is an important information carrier to disclose the laws of the society.