Tono & Lims Chigyoraku 知魚楽 – 30ml Fountain Pen Ink (Burgundy Purple)

Tono & Lims Chigyoraku 知魚楽 — 30ml Fountain Pen Ink

Tono & Lims Chigyoraku 知魚楽 is a 30ml limited edition fountain pen ink rooted in one of East Asian philosophy's most quietly joyful passages — the story of Zhuangzi and Huizi standing on a bridge, debating whether a fish can know happiness. The answer, in Zhuangzi's telling, is found not through logic but through feeling: you know joy by living it. Chigyoraku, the ink, carries that same emotional register. Its burgundy-plum base shifts from dusty rose to deep wine-purple across a single stroke, capturing something between delight and melancholy — the bittersweet beauty of a fading rose, the warmth of water catching light.

The bottle label features two small fish and Chinese characters against the ink's base colour — a quiet piece of design that reflects the philosophical origin without overstating it.

Originally released as a limited edition and later revisited as a Remastered version reformulated with updated materials for greater depth and refinement, Chigyoraku remains one of Tono & Lims' most emotionally resonant inks. The Remastered edition is the most current and polished expression of this colour.

Available at Shosai (shosai.ca) in Gatineau / Ottawa — with in-store pickup (J9J 0K6) and Canada-wide shipping.

What Makes Chigyoraku Different

Burgundy and plum inks are not rare. But an ink that shifts convincingly from pale dusty rose to deep wine-purple within the same stroke — on the same page, in the same pen — is considerably rarer. Chigyoraku's defining quality is not simply its colour, but the range of its colour: the full arc from light pink through mauve to dark burgundy-purple, expressed through shading alone, without shimmer or sheen.

The effect changes dramatically with paper. On Cosmo Air Light, the ink reads as a dusty, grey-pink rose with deep wine at the stroke centres. On Tomoe River, it shifts toward a richer grape-purple. On everyday papers, it settles into a composed pink-purple that remains entirely legible and professional. The same ink reads differently in every context — which is, perhaps, the point. Like Zhuangzi's fish, its happiness depends on where it swims.

Colour Profile

Base Colour

Chigyoraku is a complex burgundy-plum purple with warm pink undertones. In the bottle, it presents as a deep, slightly murky wine-purple — rich without being heavy. On the page, the colour resolves differently depending on paper and nib:

• On Tomoe River, the ink reads closest to a deep grape-soda purple — saturated, warm, and rich
• On Cosmo Air Light and similar papers, it shifts toward a dramatic dusty rose in lighter areas, deepening to pink-purple and dark burgundy at the stroke's densest points
• On standard papers, it settles into a composed pink-mauve that reads cleanly at all nib sizes

The colour sits at approximately RGB 182, 118, 142 — a pink-purple that is warm at its lightest and deeply vinous at its darkest.

Shading

Medium to heavy — Chigyoraku's most defining and celebrated characteristic. The tonal range within a single stroke is exceptional: light passes read as soft, dusty pink; mid-tones resolve into mauve and warm purple; the densest areas deepen into dark burgundy and wine-purple. The gradient is expressive and dramatic without being garish — it rewards broad nibs, slow writing, and quality paper, but remains attractive even in finer nibs on everyday stock.

This is one of the most visually expressive shading inks in the Tono & Lims catalogue. Writers who value tonal depth over flatness will find Chigyoraku to be among the most rewarding inks available at this colour position.

Reflet métallique (Sheen)

None to minimal. Reviews of both the original and Remastered versions consistently report no significant sheen. The ink's entire visual energy is invested in its shading range rather than surface metallic effects. On premium papers under certain lighting conditions, a very faint warmth may appear at pooling points, but this is not a defining feature of the ink.

Paillettes (Shimmer)

None. Chigyoraku is a standard dye-based ink containing no metallic or iridescent shimmer particles. It is fully safe for fine nibs, vintage pens, and pens with narrow ink channels. No clogging risk, no particles settling in the bottle over time.

Ink Properties at a Glance

Flow

Average. Chigyoraku flows at a balanced, moderate rate through standard converters and cartridge-converter systems — neither notably wet nor notably dry. The flow is consistent across nib sizes, making it a reliable choice for a wide range of pens without adjustment.

Dry Time

The original version tested at approximately 40 seconds on quality paper — on the longer side for a dye ink. The Remastered version performs at an average or slightly faster dry time on quality paper, reflecting the reformulation. On faster-absorbing papers, dry time is shorter, though at the cost of reduced shading visibility. Left-handed writers and those prone to smudging should factor this into their paper and nib choice.

Water Resistance

None. Chigyoraku is a standard water-based dye ink with no water resistance. It will run or fade when exposed to moisture and is not suitable for documents requiring archival longevity. For those applications, a pigment-based ink is recommended.

Line Quality

Crisp and clean on quality fountain pen papers. On premium papers — Tomoe River, Cosmo Air Light, Rhodia — Chigyoraku lays down clean, well-defined strokes with no feathering. On standard office paper, performance is slightly reduced but remains acceptable for everyday use.

How to Get the Most Out of Chigyoraku

Recommended Paper

Paper choice is the single most important variable in how Chigyoraku's shading expresses itself. The ink behaves differently enough across paper types that the choice genuinely changes the character of the colour:

• Cosmo Air Light — the most dramatic expression; dusty rose in lighter areas, deep burgundy at stroke centres; the full pink-to-wine range is visible simultaneously
• Tomoe River (52gsm or 68gsm) — shifts the colour toward a richer grape-purple; slower absorption maximises the tonal gradient; the gold standard for shading inks
• Midori MD Paper — creamy surface brings out the warm pink undertones; excellent pooling behaviour
• Rhodia / Clairefontaine — consistent, reliable results; a dependable everyday option that shows the shading clearly

Avoid highly absorbent papers (standard copy paper, Moleskine). Fast absorption compresses the tonal gradient before it develops, reducing the pink-to-burgundy range to a flat, mid-tone mauve.

Recommended Nibs

• Medium to Broad nibs — the primary recommendation; more ink on the page means the full pink-to-burgundy shading range is visible within each stroke
• Stub or Italic nibs — the contrast between thick and thin strokes creates multiple tonal zones within each letter; particularly striking for expressive writing and lettering
• Flex nibs — the variation in ink flow under flex pressure produces dramatic shifts from pale pink to deep wine within a single downstroke
• Fine nibs — shading is more restrained but still present on quality paper; a good choice for those who want the colour without the full expressive range

Recommended Uses

• Artistic writing and expressive journaling — the pink-to-burgundy shading range rewards sustained writing; each page develops its own tonal narrative
• Illustrated journaling and wash work — diluted with water, Chigyoraku produces multi-tonal pink and mauve washes with unexpected depth
• Everyday writing — the composed pink-mauve base reads cleanly and professionally on standard papers; distinctive without being distracting
• Swatching and ink documentation — the shading range photographs exceptionally well; the full pink-to-burgundy gradient reads clearly in natural light and macro photography

About the Remastered Edition

Chigyoraku was originally released as a limited edition before being revisited as a Remastered version, reformulated with updated materials to bring greater depth and refinement to the colour. The Remastered edition preserves the core identity of the original — the burgundy-plum base, the expressive shading range, the philosophical origin — while representing Tono & Lims' most current and polished expression of this ink. Both versions share the same essential character; the Remastered edition is the version currently available through select retailers.

About Tono & Lims

Tono & Lims is a South Korean ink brand founded on the principle that fountain pen ink should be an artistic medium in its own right. Known for adventurous colour formulations, limited edition releases, and thematic series, Tono & Lims has built a devoted global following among fountain pen enthusiasts, calligraphers, and stationery collectors. Their inks are manufactured in South Korea and distributed through curated stationery retailers worldwide.

Product Specifications

Available at Shosai — Ottawa–Gatineau

Shosai (shosai.ca) is a fine stationery boutique serving the Ottawa–Gatineau National Capital Region. We carry a curated selection of premium fountain pen inks, papers, and writing instruments from the world's most respected stationery brands.

• 📍 In-store pickup: Gatineau, QC — J9J 0K6
• 🛵 Local delivery: Available in the Ottawa–Gatineau area
•  🚚 Canada-wide shipping available
• 🇫🇷 Service bilingue — français et anglais

Whether you are new to fountain pens or a seasoned collector, Shosai is your local destination for inks that go beyond the ordinary.