Yet, proper use of those ink sticks required grinding on an inkstone, a practice that has been carried on for thousands of years, until Xie Songdai from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) arrived on the scene.

Xie felt the inconvenience of grinding ink while taking the imperial exam, so he began exploring ways to produce ready-to-use ink liquid.

After numerous trials and errors in Beijing, he finally developed ink liquid in 1865, which could rival traditional ink sticks for effectiveness. This invention changed the age-old practice of grinding ink sticks before writing. Xie then promoted it at imperial examination venues, where it was warmly received by the test takers. This success led him to establish Yidege.

Since then, the ink liquid has stood the test of time and become an indispensable part of the desks of traditional Chinese calligraphers and painters.

Wei has worked his way up to be the fourth generation of Yidege inheritors after he joined the time-honored brand more than two decades ago.

"We have consistently adhered to traditional methods and strict quality standards, which means that many steps cannot be replaced by machines to this day," says Wei.

Tasks such as ingredient mixing, glue and ink paste preparation must be taught by master craftsmen through hands-on instructions.

"It takes years of practice, developing a keen sense of touch and sight before one can master the craft and work independently," he says.