Yazeh Ink Reviews

  Ostrich — 水蓝 (Water Blue)   Ink Review # 273   Ink:  水蓝 (Water Blue) Series:  24 series Brand:  Ostrich Availability:  AliExpress and similar outlets. Pens Used:  Jinhao Centennial (EEF Majohn flex, fude), Lamy Safari Red (EF/F/M/B/ stub 1.1) Description Disclaimer:  This is a petrol-blue ink. I don’t like the color, and this is the second of two back-to-back reviews of disappointing inks. So, take my acerbic tone with a grain of salt.   😉 The only redeeming feature of this ink is the lovely poem by Meng Jiao ( 孟郊 , 751–814) inscribed on the ink bottle. 苦寒吟  -Kǔhán Yín, Song of Bitter Cold (Translated by ChatGPT and adapted by me) The cold sky is winter-water blue; the north wind howls through withered mulberries. The thick ice, unblemished; the winter sun casts a cold light I strike the stone—no spark will catch; winter's icy yin overwhelms the yang’s warmth Freezing, I chant this unforgiving cold.   The ink has a...

  Ostrich — Purple Snowflakes (严凝 /Yánníng)   Ink Review # 264   Ink:  Purple Snowflakes (严凝 /Yánníng) Series:  24 Solar Terms Brand:  Ostrich Country:  Manual check needed Availability:  Unknown Pens Used:  Platinum Preppy EF, Kaweco Sport (EF/F/M/B/BB stub 1.1), Jinhao 450 fude, Noodler’s Ahab with an FPR ultra-flex nib. Description All the inks in this series are based on Chinese poetry and the 24 seasonal markers in the Chinese calendar. The bottle’s text comes from Lu You’s (1125–1210) “Heavy Snow.” Here is an adapted translation by me and ChatGPT. Deep freeze—Jiangnan has never seen such snow. Flakes traverse the curtain; the treetops bow beneath their weight. Dice tumble in felt tents; a sleepless night. The bridled horse is ready at dawn; the rider hesitates. Too late to reclaim the lost north, in vain I dream of the Yellow River frozen to its depths. This is a wet, gorgeous, dark, muted purple. Ink has excellent lubrication. It was u...

Ostrich Green Robinia   Ink Review # 261   Ink:  Green Robinia Series:  24 SOLAR TERMS Brand:  Ostrich Country:  China Availability:  10 ml and 30 ml bottles from AliExpress and similar outlets.  Pens Used:  Pilot Elite EF, Kaweco Sport Black (EF/F/M/B/BB, stub 1.1, 1.9), Hongdian Black Forest Black Fude, Karas Kustoms fitted with a FPnibs triple-channeled ebonite feed and Bock super flex nib.   All these inks in this series have a poem imprinted on the bottle. This one is by Su Shi.   Su Shi —  Ruanlanggui · Early Summer Green locust trees, tall willows— the cicadas’ song muffled; the qin strings quiver beneath the caress of the summer breeze. Incense smoke clouds the silk screen; I am startled from my summer slumber by the click of game pieces. A fine rain passes; lotus leaves bow; pomegranate blossoms on fire. Delicate hands play with clear water in a jade basin; droplets scatter like broken pearls, then round themselves aga...