EFNIR: Jin Chen Mao She

[LizEF]

Extra Fine Nib Ink Review: Jin Chen Mao She

This is review #367 in my series. Here's the YouTube video:

Post-recording notes: This ink from China was gifted to me by @A Smug Dill - thanks, Dill!   My apologies for not including the Chinese name of this ink-my database language doesn't support double-byte characters, nor do I know how to write them properly. Please see my inks spreadsheet which now has a tab with both the Chinese and English ink names. This is a chroma-shading ink. Since this attribute can be less stable over time, I'm reviewing all of them out of sequence, and including three additional papers.

I see mostly tan with hints of pink and green. These are prominent on CRENA swatch cards (the inset on the swatch card images). The lighter part of the Robert Oster Forest Green swatch was very close to the green on the inset swatch of Mao She. I had no pink that was remotely similar.

The video didn't want to pick up the color, so the ink looks grey there. See the still scan for the best color reproduction. The microscope smear was boring. Cleaning was ridiculously quick and easy.

Zoomed in photo (The image seems too greenish and yellow. The real color is more red than this (not that it looks at all red, it's just tan, but in comparison to the image).)

Screenshot (Too desaturated - the video didn't want to pick up color.)

Scan of Completed Review (This is both closest and very close to the color I see.)

Absorbent Paper Close-up (top is puzzle paper like thick newsprint, bottom is old 20lb copy paper) (The top, absorbent paper, is lighter than reality. The copy paper on the bottom is fairly close.)

Line width (Roughly 290µm. The "I" in "Ink:". Magnification is 100x. The grid is 100x100µm. The scale is 330µm, with eleven divisions of 30µm each. With 367 inks measured, the average line width is 299µm.)

Swatch card comparison (The lower image of Mao She is closer to real. Forest Green is a little too saturated and Sesame Oil is off, but the others are fairly close.)

Different Papers (All are fairly close, but: Clairefontaine is a little redder and more saturated in real life. Life is brighter in real life (and yes, yellow-green). Iroful is also a little redder and the heavy spot definitely shows pink.)

Previous Review: Robert Oster Ever Green.

Images also available on Instagram: @zilxodarap.

Want to influence the inky sequence? Take the "next ink" poll.

View a list of my inks, complete with review results in a google sheet.

Need to catch up on The Adventures of Quin and Makhabesh? Find the whole story here. Or read Part 8: The Ice Fields Adventure.

Hope you enjoy. Comments appreciated!

[yazeh]

Wow, wow, wow, @LizEF has fallen in love with an ink.  congrats!

That's rare for us ink nerds.  

I'm impressed that lubrication is slightly below average. Normally these inks need a soft wet nib. 

According to AI, Mao She (茆舍) means ‘Thatch Hut’—a small cottage roofed with wild grass, the kind a hermit or poet would retreat to.”

The color variations between Life and the others are extreme. Green on one, tan, green, gold on others? That's something. 

 

Makhabesh's inner monologue is gripping and filled with melancholy. 

 

Thanks for exploring these unknown inks and many thanks @A Smug Dill for sharing them. 🙏🙏🙏

[Sailor Kenshin]

Whoa.

 

An ink that looks different on every paper, and a fancy chroma?  Fascinating, Captain.  

 

But even if I had new eyeglasses… well.  Had trouble reading the story and review without Extreme Magnification, the ink's so light.  All I can think of that even comes close is Montblanc Swan Plume, and I still have half a vial.

 

@LizEF: You continue to make Tuesdays magical and fun... I always look forward to the review and story. Rooting hard for our heroes to come out of this fix Triumphant.

Thanks!

[LizEF]

1 hour ago, yazeh said:

Wow, wow, wow, @LizEF has fallen in love with an ink.  congrats!

An ink that's basically unobtainium to me!   Thankfully, there are others that are similar and easy to obtain.  I'll probably get myself a bottle of Dominant Industry November Leaves (but I need to try it in a pen first).

 

1 hour ago, yazeh said:

That's rare for us ink nerds.  

Indeed.  But I've been longing for pale tan inks since I reviewed the "stale" Gutenberg Urkundentinte G10.

 

1 hour ago, yazeh said:

I'm impressed that lubrication is slightly below average. Normally these inks need a soft wet nib. 

Yeah, all the chromashading inks Dill sent have had less than average lubrication (presumably in part due to low dye concentration), but they haven't been as bad as you'd expect.

 

1 hour ago, yazeh said:

According to AI, Mao She (茆舍) means ‘Thatch Hut’—a small cottage roofed with wild grass, the kind a hermit or poet would retreat to.”

Cool!  And thanks!  I could totally go for a small thatched cottage to retreat to.  

 

1 hour ago, yazeh said:

The color variations between Life and the others are extreme. Green on one, tan, green, gold on others? That's something.

Yes, this is probably the most chromashading of the ones I've done so far (which are coming - I've been doing two of those, then one from the poll, then two chromashading - that's my plan going forward).

 

1 hour ago, yazeh said:

Makhabesh's inner monologue is gripping and filled with melancholy. 

 Thanks!

 

1 hour ago, yazeh said:

Thanks for exploring these unknown inks

You're most welcome!

 

1 hour ago, yazeh said:

and many thanks @A Smug Dill for sharing them. 🙏🙏🙏

Agreed!  

[LizEF]

9 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

Whoa.

 Remember this next Tuesday.  

 

10 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

An ink that looks different on every paper, and a fancy chroma?  Fascinating, Captain.

  Indeed!

 

10 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

But even if I had new eyeglasses… well.  Had trouble reading the story and review without Extreme Magnification, the ink's so light.

 Sorry.  I didn't have trouble reading it, though it is pale.  It was right on the edge of me adding subtitles to the video.

 

11 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

All I can think of that even comes close is Montblanc Swan Plume, and I still have half a vial.

::googles::  Oh, yes, that's quite a bit darker.

 

12 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

@LizEF: You continue to make Tuesdays magical and fun... I always look forward to the review and story.

 Thanks!

 

12 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

Rooting hard for our heroes to come out of this fix Triumphant.

 

12 minutes ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

Thanks!

You're most welcome!  

[yazeh]

8 minutes ago, LizEF said:

An ink that's basically unobtainium to me!   Thankfully, there are others that are similar and easy to obtain.  I'll probably get myself a bottle of Dominant Industry November Leaves (but I need to try it in a pen first).

 Inkebera has a few colours like that, Sand and Earth. 

8 minutes ago, LizEF said:

 

Indeed.  But I've been longing for pale tan inks since I reviewed the "stale" Gutenberg Urkundentinte G10.

 

8 minutes ago, LizEF said:

 

Yeah, all the chromashading inks Dill sent have had less than average lubrication (presumably in part due to low dye concentration), but they haven't been as bad as you'd expect.

Good to know. I've learned to adapt to ink quirks. If ink is low on lubrication then don't push as hard etc. Another thing I've remarked that some inks, while scratchy writing are smooth when drawing.  

8 minutes ago, LizEF said:

 

Cool!  And thanks!  I could totally go for a small thatched cottage to retreat to.  

With a ginger/tan  kitty.  

8 minutes ago, LizEF said:

Yes, this is probably the most chromashading of the ones I've done so far (which are coming - I've been doing two of those, then one from the poll, then two chromashading - that's my plan going forward).

Looking forward to them.  

 

[yazeh]

22 minutes ago, LizEF said:

An ink that's basically unobtainium to me!  

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003423016937.html

[Penguincollector]

  Thanks for the excellent review, Liz! I also had to magnify the page to see it but I think it’s mostly due to living in the Dark Place right now. 
 

   Yazeh’s suggestion of Inkebara Earth is really close. Others that are in range are: Sailor ink studio 273 and Yurameku Kokoroguma (this line is all paper dependent chroma shaders, so you might want to check the whole line out), 3 Oysters Caramel Macchiato, Diamine Weeping Willow, Troublemaker Sepia Hour, and Kitty Inkpot Resting in the Evening Breeze.

 

  Our poor friends, out there in the cold. 
 

    My adaptive response to dry inks is to use them in the wettest pens I have. These chroma shaders have been wonderful in Pelikans, MBs, and my very entry level Staedtler calligraphy set. 

[LizEF]

48 minutes ago, yazeh said:

 Inkebera has a few colours like that, Sand and Earth. 

::googles:: OK, two more added to my "Urkundentinte" wish list!  

 

52 minutes ago, yazeh said:

I've learned to adapt to ink quirks. If ink is low on lubrication then don't push as hard etc.

Indeed!  Some inks are worth it, and a light hand with the right writing surface covers a multitude of inky sins.

 

52 minutes ago, yazeh said:

Another thing I've remarked that some inks, while scratchy writing are smooth when drawing.  

I bow to your experience!

 

53 minutes ago, yazeh said:

With a ginger/tan  kitty.  

Yes, one that looks just like this handsome boy:

 

54 minutes ago, yazeh said:

Looking forward to them.  

 Thanks!

[LizEF]

45 minutes ago, yazeh said:

https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005003423016937.html

Thank you!  And this reveals that in some places, the brand may be spelled "Jin Shen".  (Such difficulties when translating / transliterating!)

[LizEF]

36 minutes ago, Penguincollector said:

Thanks for the excellent review, Liz!

You're most welcome!

 

36 minutes ago, Penguincollector said:

I also had to magnify the page to see it but I think it’s mostly due to living in the Dark Place right now. 

Sorry.   (Where is "the Dark Place"?)

 

37 minutes ago, Penguincollector said:

Yazeh’s suggestion of Inkebara Earth is really close. Others that are in range are: Sailor ink studio 273 and Yurameku Kokoroguma (this line is all paper dependent chroma shaders, so you might want to check the whole line out), 3 Oysters Caramel Macchiato, Diamine Weeping Willow, Troublemaker Sepia Hour, and Kitty Inkpot Resting in the Evening Breeze.

So many tans!  Must resist!  One is already on my wishlist, one I already have a sample of (it's the first unlabeled swatch card in the comparisons)...

 

40 minutes ago, Penguincollector said:

Our poor friends, out there in the cold. 

 

40 minutes ago, Penguincollector said:

My adaptive response to dry inks is to use them in the wettest pens I have.

I tried that with Sesame Oil, and it was so dry it wouldn't keep up.  It kept up fine with my review pen, though.

 

41 minutes ago, Penguincollector said:

These chroma shaders have been wonderful in Pelikans, MBs, and my very entry level Staedtler calligraphy set. 

I haven't tried Sesame Oil in my Pelikan (I don't think), but I will put Mao She in it and hope they're a good match.

[USG]

Hi Liz

All I can say is 2 thumbs up   👍👍   

[LizEF]

20 minutes ago, USG said:

Hi Liz

All I can say is 2 thumbs up   👍👍   

 Thanks!

[A Smug Dill]

I'm glad you love this ink, @LizEF. Thanks for reviewing it for everyone.

 

I didn't expect you'd include the swatches made on the CRENA swatch cards in your reviews, ha! I only brought them to the US with me, in case I ‘needed‘ to show US Customs what those vials of liquids are and do, without their opening every one up to test or analyse. Since I already had them with me, and I could always make new swatches, I thought I may as well just send the lot to you while I was at it. Now I'm very glad I did!

 

A friend (the admin of the Fountain Pens Australia Facebook group) suggested that I could bring you a deck of the CRENA swatch cards as well, but I didn't (and still don't) think they'd have fit inside the mailing box.

 

9 hours ago, yazeh said:

According to AI, Mao She (茆舍) means ‘Thatch Hut’—a small cottage roofed with wild grass, the kind a hermit or poet would retreat to.”

 

It's also the humble or self-deprecating term to refer figuratively to one's abode in Chinese, especially if it's real estate that he/she owns.

 

7 hours ago, LizEF said:

Thank you!  And this reveals that in some places, the brand may be spelled "Jin Shen".  (Such difficulties when translating / transliterating!)

 

That was probably just a (deliberate or inadvertent) transcription error; the product images in that listing show JIN CHEN in the top right corner. However, I also see this in one of the Taobao listings of the sole ultimate source of this brand of ink:

 

One of the multi-option (as in, choose your preferred, or if you want to buy a set of N inks, etc.) listings has this bit of information:

 

but doesn't say to which specific ink/option that pertains.

 

8 hours ago, Sailor Kenshin said:

But even if I had new eyeglasses… well.  Had trouble reading the story and review without Extreme Magnification, the ink's so light.

 

The bottom half of the following image is one of the writing samples in the marketing material:

 

[LizEF]

10 minutes ago, A Smug Dill said:

I'm glad you love this ink, @LizEF. Thanks for reviewing it for everyone.

 You're most welcome!  Thank you for sending it!

 

10 minutes ago, A Smug Dill said:

I didn't expect you'd include the swatches made on the CRENA swatch cards in your reviews, ha! I only brought them to the US with me, in case I ‘needed‘ to show US Customs what those vials of liquids are and do, without their opening every one up to test or analyse. Since I already had them with me, and I could always make new swatches, I thought I may as well just send the lot to you while I was at it. Now I'm very glad I did!

I'm beyond glad!  They're very helpful!   It showed the chromashading so well that I had to include it, so I'm doing that for all of them now - it's easy enough to glue it to my card.  My own cards are only so-so - good enough for me, but not the best for shading, sheen, etc.

 

10 minutes ago, A Smug Dill said:

A friend (the admin of the Fountain Pens Australia Facebook group) suggested that I could bring you a deck of the CRENA swatch cards as well, but I didn't (and still don't) think they've have fit inside the mailing box.

Yeah, that box was packed!

 

10 minutes ago, A Smug Dill said:

It's also the humble or self-deprecating term to refer figuratively to one's abode in Chinese, especially if it's real estate that he/she owns.

Ah, like "Welcome to my humble abode."?

 

10 minutes ago, A Smug Dill said:

...this bit of information...

Whoa!   That's cool.  Not often we see the ingredients of an ink!

 

Thanks for all the additional info and images, Dill!  Much appreciated.

[LizEF]

7 hours ago, LizEF said:

How is it that you people aren't commenting on this boy!?  He's so cute and cuddly!

[A Smug Dill]

16 minutes ago, LizEF said:

Ah, like "Welcome to my humble abode."?

 

Exactly, but used along the lines of, “please come to mao she (for …)” is to be interpreted as, “please come to my home (for …)”; the my is implied, and would not be ‘spelt out’.

 

Actually, it'd probably be expressed in an even less straightforward manner than that. Inviting someone to visit, or greeting them upon their showing up, would probably be expressed as 光臨, … the closest English expression would be “(to) grace with your presence”, so …光臨茅舍 would be “…grace my humble abode with (your/their) presence”. The bit that would go before that may not even literally translate to “you”, but instead be an expression that exalts the other party.

[LizEF]

33 minutes ago, A Smug Dill said:

Exactly, but used along the lines of, “please come to mao she (for …)” is to be interpreted as, “please come to my home (for …)”; the my is implied, and would not be ‘spelt out’.

 

Actually, it'd probably be expressed in an even less straightforward manner than that. Inviting someone to visit, or greeting them upon their showing up, would probably be expressed as 光臨, … the closest English expression would be “(to) grace with your presence”, so …光臨茅舍 would be “…grace my humble abode with (your/their) presence”. The bit that would go before that may not even literally translate to “you”, but instead be an expression that exalts the other party.

I love learning little details like these - they give so much insight into a culture.  And it's very different from American culture.  

[InkyProf]

31 minutes ago, LizEF said:

How is it that you people aren't commenting on this boy!?  He's so cute and cuddly!

 

I think we've all been stunned into silent awe: I don't think I've ever seen a housecat who looked so regal.

 

Apart from that, this thread is fabulous in so many ways: a really interesting and unusual color, an education in chromashading, a language lesson... not to mention another chapter in the adventure. Thanks, @LizEF and @A Smug Dill.

[LizEF]

1 hour ago, InkyProf said:

I think we've all been stunned into silent awe: I don't think I've ever seen a housecat who looked so regal.

 He is a very distinguished gentleman (until you watch his videos, then he's a bit of a goof, kinda like all housecats).

 

1 hour ago, InkyProf said:

Apart from that, this thread is fabulous in so many ways: a really interesting and unusual color, an education in chromashading, a language lesson... not to mention another chapter in the adventure. Thanks, @LizEF and @A Smug Dill.

You're most welcome!  I thoroughly enjoyed this one.