Ri Shan Shui: Set of Calligraphy Paperweights

Appreciating the Beauty of Chinese Characters

The Ri paperweight represents the Chinese character "日" meaning the sun. When a writing brush is set on the paperweight, the character is completed. Made of walnut and brass, the Ri paperweight expresses the warmth of handwriting and the radiance of the sun.

The Shan paperweight reflects the shape of the Chinese character "山," meaning mountain. In Chinese poetry, the mountain is a conceptual metaphor for a scholar's integrity. The Shan paperweight is crafted from ceramics, with a spray-painted snow embellishment on the top, capturing the essence of a majestic mountain.

The Shui paperweight, made of transparent glass, represents the flowing water. It serves as a reminder that words can be as soft as water, yet powerful. The glass is shaped to resemble the form of water flow, symbolizing the fluidity and strength of language.

The Ri Shan Shui paperweights are not only decorative items but also functional. They can be used as pen holders or to suppress items, adding a touch of elegance to any table.

The design and realization of the Ri Shan Shui paperweights involved a combination of traditional and modern techniques. Wood lathe and CNC cutting were employed to shape the walnut and brass for the Ri paperweight. Ceramics were carefully shaped and spray-painted for the Shan paperweight. The Shui paperweight was created by injecting a small amount of water into hollow glass and shaping it into the form of water flow.

With dimensions ranging from 95 mm × 95 mm × 32 mm for the Ri paperweight to 180 mm × 45 mm × 30 mm for the Shui paperweight, each piece in the Ri Shan Shui collection is meticulously crafted to showcase the beauty and intricacy of Chinese characters.

The Ri Shan Shui paperweights were designed by Chiahsun Tsai and Tzuying Chen. The project was initiated in February 2017 and completed in April 2017 in Taipei, Taiwan.

Through the Ri Shan Shui paperweights, Chiahsun Tsai aims to promote the appreciation of Chinese characters and their cultural significance. By integrating pictographic Chinese characters into these exquisite paperweights, Tsai invites us to explore the beauty and wisdom of our ancestors' language.

Chiahsun Tsai's Ri Shan Shui paperweights were awarded the Iron A' Design Award in the Decorative Items and Homeware Design category in 2019. This prestigious award recognizes the well-designed, practical, and innovative nature of the Ri Shan Shui collection, which meets professional and industrial requirements while contributing to a better world.