中国文房有“笔墨纸砚”之说。砚虽然在四宝中排位最末,其地位却一直居领军。所谓“四宝”砚为首,砚台因为质地坚实、能传百代,所以现今社会上“四宝”以砚最为多见,受人喜爱的范围也最为广泛。如今的拍卖市场中,“文房”有广阔的市场。而所有的“文房”拍卖,几乎都是砚台为主导。文房四宝中,除了“宣纸”、“徽墨”、“湖笔”为人所知,其他的“笔墨纸”世人知者甚少。唯独砚台,不仅“四大砚台”声名远播,更有无数地方砚种流派纷呈。“砚文化”更成为显学。 Chinese literature has “ink and paper inkstone ” said. Yan though ranked the last in the four treasures, but its position has been the leader. The so-called “Four Treasures ” Yan led the first, the inkstone because of solid texture, can pass 100 generation, so today’s society “Si Bao ” to Yan is the most common, favorite range is also the most extensive. Today’s auction market, “atelier ” has a vast market. And all “chamber ” auctions, almost all ink stone-led. Four treasures in the room, in addition to “Xuan paper ”, “emblem ”, “lake pen ” is known, other “ink paper ” little known in the world. Only inkstone, not only “four ink stone ” fame, there are countless local inkstone genre. “Yan culture ” has become more significant study.