Programs

Four-in-One Antique Authentication Method – International Practical Guide｜《四合一文物鉴定法国际实用教程》

Project Overview｜项目概述

Soul Foundation is developing the Four-in-One Antique Authentication Method — International Practical Guide as a public-benefit educational and research project based on decades of research, teaching materials, photographic documentation, experimental data, and archival work related to the Four-in-One Method.

The project seeks to organize, verify, edit, digitize, and responsibly develop these materials into a practical educational resource for free learning, research, and use by individuals, researchers, educational institutions, cultural organizations, and other interested users.

Soul Foundation 正在将《四合一文物鉴定法国际实用教程》发展为一项公益教育与研究项目。该项目建立在数十年来围绕四合一方法形成的研究成果、教学资料、摄影记录、实验数据及历史档案基础之上。

项目将对现有资料进行系统整理、核实、编辑、数字化和进一步完善，逐步形成一套面向个人、研究人员、教育机构、文化组织及其他有兴趣使用者的实用教育与研究资源，并免费开放学习、研究和使用。

Four-in-One Method Overview｜四合一方法简介

The Four-in-One Antique Authentication Method combines four complementary approaches:

Visual Inspection · Colorimetric Analysis · Microscopic Observation · Volume Weight/Density Measurement and Comparison

The original patent materials identify ceramics, jade, and bronze objects among the principal categories to which the method may be applied. The method was developed to combine traditional connoisseurship with practical scientific observation and to reduce uncertainty caused by excessive reliance on individual experience and judgment.

易氏四合一文物鉴定法将四种相互补充的方法结合起来：

目测法 · 比色法 · 微观法 · 容重测定法

原始专利资料明确列举陶瓷、玉器和青铜器等为主要适用对象。该方法旨在将传统鉴赏经验与实用科学观察相结合，减少因过度依赖个人经验与判断而产生的不确定性。

Research Materials & Evidence Base｜研究资料与数据基础

Over several decades, inventor Weiqian Yi accumulated extensive object photographs, microscopic photographs, comparative images, test records, and related research data concerning the Four-in-One Method. The project may also incorporate additional object photographs, microscopic images, comparative materials, and original density-comparison data to strengthen the guide’s educational and research value.

The surviving historical materials also include instructional texts, videos, case documentation, comparative studies, experimental records, and an earlier draft compiled and edited under the leadership of Qunfa Ma.

The current project title is Four-in-One Antique Authentication Method — International Practical Guide. An earlier draft used the fuller historical title International Practical and Popular Guide to Yi’s Four-in-One Antique Authentication Method, reflecting its original emphasis on international applicability, practical use, and public education.

数十年来，四合一方法发明人易惟谦先生积累了大量实物照片、微观照片、对比图片、测试记录及相关研究数据。项目还可进一步补充更多实物照片、微观照片、比较资料及容重对比的原始数据，以增强教程的教育与研究价值。

现存历史资料还包括教学文本、视频、案例记录、比较研究、实验资料，以及由马群法先生主持编写和编辑的早期教程稿本。

现项目名称为《四合一文物鉴定法国际实用教程》。早期稿本曾使用较完整名称《国际通用〈易氏四合一文物鉴定法〉实用普及教程》，体现了其国际应用、实用操作与公益普及的初衷。

Historical Background｜历史背景

Before the patent filing, Qunfa Ma contributed suggestions and proposed revisions to aspects of the method and later participated in the preparation and compilation of related educational materials. The former International Art & Antiques Research Association (IAARA) also participated in the method’s further development, patent preparation and filing, international promotion, educational development, and preservation of related research materials.

In 2011, inventor Weiqian Yi formally authorized Qunfa Ma and his legal representatives or organizations to promote the Four-in-One Method worldwide, including patent applications, translation, publication, distribution, and related activities. The method was subsequently granted U.S. Patent No. US 9,086,344 B2 under the patent title Antique Identification Method.

在专利申请之前，马群法先生曾对该方法进一步完善过程中的部分内容提出建议和修改意见，之后也参与了相关教育资料的准备与编写。原美国国际古玩艺术研究会（International Art & Antiques Research Association，IAARA）也曾参与该方法的进一步发展、专利准备与申请、国际推广、教育发展，以及相关研究资料的整理与保存。

2011 年，发明人易惟谦先生正式授权马群法及其合法代表或机构在全球范围内推广四合一方法，包括专利申请、翻译、出版、发行及相关活动。该方法随后以 Antique Identification Method 为专利名称，获授美国专利 US 9,086,344 B2。

Patent Reference｜专利参考

U.S. Patent No. US 9,086,344 B2           

Title: Antique Identification Method

Granted: July 21, 2015

美国专利号：US 9,086,344 B2

专利名称：Antique Identification Method（古董鉴定方法）

授权日期：2015 年 7 月 21 日

View U.S. Patent | 查看美国专利

Patent Purpose & Current Status | 专利申请初衷与当前状态

The original purpose of seeking a U.S. patent for the Four-in-One Method was to gain formal recognition and establish a credible basis for academic discussion and wider acceptance, rather than to pursue commercial exclusivity or restrictive intellectual property protection.

Granted in 2015, U.S. Patent No. 9,086,344 B2 subsequently lapsed following the discontinuation of maintenance-fee payments. In keeping with the original research philosophy and the project’s public-benefit educational mission, the decision has been made not to seek reinstatement or make any further maintenance-fee payments. The focus is now on preserving research materials, improving educational resources, and making the methodology freely available for learning, research, and independent evaluation.

申请美国专利的初衷，是希望为“四合一文物鉴定法”争取正式认可、学术交流及更广泛研究应用的话语权，而非追求商业垄断或排他性知识产权保护。

该方法于2015年获得美国发明专利授权（US 9,086,344 B2），后因停缴维护费而失效。秉承最初的研究理念及公益教育宗旨，相关方面决定不再申请恢复该专利，也不再缴纳后续维护费，而将重点转向研究资料保存、教材完善及开放教育，推动这一方法供公众免费学习、研究与独立验证。

Public Education & Future Development｜公益教育与未来发展

The long-term goal of this project is to preserve and responsibly develop the Four-in-One research legacy as an open educational resource.

Soul Foundation intends to make the method and related educational materials freely available for learning, research, and use. Future funding may support content review, editorial development, professional review, bilingual translation and editing, digitization, publication, online access, archival preservation, and educational outreach.

Selected historical materials may also be revised, digitized, published, or incorporated into future educational and research programs while preserving the historical record of their original development.

本项目的长期目标，是保存并负责任地发展四合一方法多年积累的研究成果，使其成为一项开放的公益教育资源。

Soul Foundation 计划将该方法及相关教育资料免费开放学习、研究和使用。未来获得的公益资助可用于内容核实、编辑整理、专业审核、中英文翻译与编辑、数字化、出版、线上开放、历史档案保存以及教育推广等工作。

部分历史资料未来也可能在保留其原始发展记录的基础上进行修订、数字化、出版，或纳入新的教育与研究项目。

Historical Contributors｜主要历史贡献者

Weiqian Yi｜易惟谦先生

Four-in-One Method Inventor

Weiqian Yi, also known by his literary name Qingshui Shanren, was born in Changsha, Hunan, in 1931 and is the inventor of Yi’s Four-in-One Antique Authentication Method. He entered Harbin Institute of Technology in 1950 and graduated in 1958, later working in architectural design, healthcare, and university teaching.

Yi developed broad interests in literature, art, medicine, psychology, and antique connoisseurship, with particular attention to ancient Chinese ceramics. His decades of research and documentation form an important foundation for the continued study and development of the Four-in-One Method.

易惟谦先生，号清水山人，1931 年生于湖南长沙，是易氏四合一文物鉴定法的发明人。1950 年考入哈尔滨工业大学土木系，1958 年毕业，曾在建筑设计、医疗及大学教学等领域工作。

易先生长期广泛涉猎文学、艺术、医学、心理学及古玩鉴赏，并特别关注古瓷研究。其数十年来积累的研究成果与资料，为四合一方法的研究、教学与后续发展奠定了重要基础。

Qunfa Ma (Lao Ma)｜马群法（老马）先生

Research Contributor, Educational Materials Editor & Promoter

Qunfa Ma (Lao Ma) was born in Central China in the early 1940s and has lived in California for nearly two decades. He has long been engaged in the collection, research, appreciation, and cultural study of Chinese antiques and works of art. He also served for many years as President of the International Art & Antiques Research Association.

As an important participant in and promoter of the Four-in-One Method, Lao Ma contributed to aspects of its further development, patent preparation and filing, international promotion, and the preparation and organization of related educational materials. His decades of research and documentation have contributed substantial reference materials for the study of Chinese art, antiques, and authentication research.

马群法（老马）先生，20 世纪 40 年代初出生于中国中原地区，旅居美国加州近二十年，长期从事中国古董艺术品的收藏、研究、鉴赏与文化传播，并曾长期担任美国国际古玩艺术研究会会长。

作为四合一文物鉴定法的重要参与者和推广者之一，老马曾参与该方法的完善、相关专利准备与申请、国际推广，并主持相关教育资料的编写与整理。其数十年的研究与资料积累，为中国古董艺术及相关鉴定研究留下了丰富的基础资料。