Drama revives Anhui's ink-making heritage

For centuries, ink has occupied a unique place in Chinese literary culture, revered as one of the "four treasures of the study" alongside the brush, paper and inkstone. But behind the elegant black strokes of classical calligraphy lies a demanding craft shaped by smoke, pine soot and generations of family labor in Anhui province — once the historic center of China's tribute ink industry.

That world returns to the screen in The Heir, a new costume drama that premiered on Sunday on China Central Television's CCTV-8 and the streaming platform iQiyi, weaving together family rivalries, political intrigue and the artistry of traditional ink-making.

Set during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the series opens with a scandal involving tribute ink supplied to the imperial court, an incident that upends Huizhou's once-thriving ink trade. The prestigious Li family, long respected for its craftsmanship, falls from grace, while the rival Luo family rises to prominence before becoming ensnared in political turmoil of its own.