• Journal of Korean Library and Information Science Society
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.457-477
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• 2008

The purpose of this experimental study is to analyze the techniques of producing the traditional Korean ink sticks, in order to restore them. The major findings are as follows: (1) Korean traditional ink is a name which people generically calls a block of ink mass made from soots and pine pitch, and it can be classified into pine-pitch ink and oil-pitch ink according to the type of soot. (2) Pine-pitch ink is made from soot of burnt pine trees, and oil-pitch ink is made from soot of burnt plant, animal or mineral oil. Both are mixed with glue made from resin, and hardened into block form. (3) Raw materials of ink include soot, glue made from resin, and spices, and the techniques of making Korean traditional inks were documented in etc. (4) The techniques of making Korean traditional inks have not been handed down, but some craftsmen in modern Korea have restored those traditional techniques.