Sumi
/ˈsuːmi/noun
A traditional black ink used in Japanese calligraphy and painting.
Did you know?Traditional sumi ink is made by collecting soot from burning pinewood or oil, mixing it with animal glue, and forming it into solid ink sticks ground with water before use.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient China
Chinese
墨 (mò)
“Ink made from soot and binding material; the character later became associated with ink and blackness.”
Early Japanese
Japanese
sumi (すみ／墨)
“Ink or black pigment, borrowed from the Chinese writing tradition.”
Heian Period, 8th–12th Century
Japanese
sumi
“Solid black ink used in brush calligraphy, painting, and literary arts.”
14th–16th Century
Japanese
sumi-e (墨絵)
“Ink painting, literally a painting made with sumi.”
20th Century
English
sumi
“A Japanese ink used especially in descriptions of calligraphy, painting, and sumi-e.”
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