Hosia Ink Studio Shing Tong — Ink Review #179

Hosia Ink Studio - Shing Tong



Ink Review #179


Originally posted on FPN: Apr 02, 2025


Ink: Shing Tong

Brand: Hosia Ink Studio

Country: China

Availability: 30 ml bottles; currently sold out at Soe & Soe, with limited/marketplace availability elsewhere.

Pens Used: Pilot Kakuno EF, Lamy Safari (EF / F / M / B / Stub 1.1), Noodler's Nib Creaper semi-flex.


🧾    Description

According to Soe & Soe, "Shing Tong is a chromoshading ink with muted red base with blue haloing and golden sheen. It is said that this effect is best seen with a dip pen."

Many thanks to A Smug Dill for introducing me to this brand and to this stationery store.

Chromoshading seems to be the new wave in ink. This is the first of three Chinese brands I reviewed. For now, I found them consistently lacking in lubrication, and the hype is still hype. However, for those who use ink for artwork, these inks are fun to use.

According to ChatGPT, Shing Tong means "Sacred Hall" or "Holy Temple."

In short: this is a novelty ink whose full effect appears only with heavy application and on some Japanese papers. Otherwise, it is a dusky purple with nice shading.

The flow is okay. In the Kakuno it felt a bit sluggish and laborious, and the Nib Creaper was a bit ink-starved. Lubrication is below average, so you will have feedback. Dry times are on the long side on Rhodia, water resistance is decent, and the ink's complexity appears mostly in washes.

Cleaning is a bit difficult. I needed a cleaning solution to remove the pink dye.

Interestingly, when applied heavily, the blue dye bleeds through some papers, including copy paper and Iroful. That made me wonder whether it can be used with a dip pen on normal paper.

Bottom line: if you do not like feedback, this ink is not for you. To see the full effect, use a wet pen, a wide buttery nib, and good Japanese paper. It is good for journaling, artwork, ink washes, and calligraphy. Get a sample if you can.

🧪    Chroma


✍️    Writing Samples (scan)

Colour is difficult to scan, and the ink looks grey.

Rhodia

Midori

Tomoe River 68 gsm

Iroful

Note how, with heavy application, the "chromo" parts bleed through. 😉


Hammermill 20 lb

📸    Photo

Colour is correct in these photos.

Tomoe River 68 gsm

Midori, natural light

Closeup, Tomoe River 68 gsm

Iroful

🔍    Comparison

Note how the scanner captures the colour of this ink. You can still discern a hint of lavender.

Grey ink comparison

💧    Water Test

Right image: 10 seconds under running water, 24 hours after writing. Paper is Maruman.

Artwork

I already posted a drawing featuring this ink in my Lennon Tool Bar Cat General review.

Beauty Salon

Lennon Tool Bar Cat General (tan); Fanyantan - Qinghai Wave (green); Hosia Ink Studio - Shing Tong; Kala Moonlight Tide.


Broken

Kala Moonlight Tide (grey black) / Noodler's Red Rattler Red. Chromoshading inks: Hosia Ink Studio - Shing Tong and Fanyantan - Qinghai Wave (green).

Modern Connection

While Mr. Fish, smoking his bubble pipe, filled the void of his empty castle by watching cute kitty videos on his waterproof custom-made TV, Cat and Mouse were watching deep sea videos on a smartphone. 

The background is Shing Tong. Other inks used: KWZ Orange, Jacques Herbin Rue de la Verrerie, Kala Moonlight Tide, and De Atramentis Document Cyan.


🧷    Ink Characteristics

·       What I Liked: Colour for doing washes; watching the ink dry.

·       What I Did Not Like: Lack of lubrication; cleaning it; the hype.

·       What Some Might Not Like: Price; lack of lubrication.

·       Writing Experience: Not the best.

·       Pros: Gorgeous colour; great for ink washes.

·       Cons: Lack of lubrication; availability; cleaning.

·       Shading: Lovely.

·       Ghosting: Yes, on cheap paper and with heavy applications on Iroful.

·       Bleed Through: Same as above.

·       Flow Rate: Okay.

·       Lubrication: Below average.

·       Nib Dry-out: Yes, if the pen is left uncapped.

·       Start-up: Okay.

·       Saturation: Not saturated.

·       Shading Potential: Good.

·       Sheen: No.

·       Spread / Feathering / Woolly Line: Did not notice.

·       Nib Creep / "Crud": Did not notice.

·       Staining (Pen): Did not notice.

·       Clogging: Did not notice.

·       Cleaning: I needed a cleaning solution.

·       Water Resistance: Decent.

💬    Closing

Shing Tong is at its most interesting when used for washes and artwork. For everyday writing, it is more of a specialist ink: lovely in the right pen and paper combination, but not the smoothest ride.

No fountain pens were harmed in preparing this review. 😉

Please don't hesitate to share your experience, writing samples, or any other comments. The more the merrier. 😊

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