The four Treasures of the Study
3 min readWriting of Chinese characters could develop into an independent kind of art not only because of Chinese characters special characteristics. The unique writing tools were also an important factor
The Confucian classic Analects of Confucius says: A craftsman who wishes to practice his craft has to first sharpen his tools the writing brush ink ink stone and paper, collectively called “the four treasures of the study”, are indispensable tools for calligraphic art. It can be said that without these calligraphic tools, there would be no calligraphic art or excellent calligraphic work
The writing brush originated in the Neolithic Age. The pictures on Neolithic painted pottery were drawn with writing brushes. Writing brushes are mainly made of animal hair. Those made of sheep hair are called sheep hair brushes those made of olf hair are called wolf hair brush and those made of rabbit hair are called rabbit hair brushes”. Though people mostly use pencils, pens and ball-point pens to rite today and even replace pens with computers, they cannot replace writing brushes, because the unique forms charm and artistic conceptions of chinese characters written with and paintings drawn with writing brushes cannot be possibly imitated using any type of pens
Ink is coloring material for writing and painting. There are many places of origin and varieties. The most famous one is Huizhou ink named after its place of origin Huizhou, Anhui. There is a story about it. Famous ink producer Xi chao and his son Xi Ting prepared good ink highly appreciated by the last emperor of the Southern tang Dynasty (937-975) Li Yu, so he bestowed the imperial surname Li on them. Thus Li ink”became famous around China. In the Song Dynasty(960-1279), the place of origin of Li ink She county was renamed Huizhou, So”Li ink”was also renamed Huizhou ink. The name is still used today
Paper is one of the Four Great Inventions of ancient China Paper began to be produced in the Western Han Dynasty（206 BC-25 AD）.Cai Lun（？-121）improved thepapermaking technique in the Eastern Han Dynasty（25-220）.The famous Xuanzhou paper emerged in the Sui and Tang dynasties.There is a legend in Xuanzhou，Anhui，the place of origin of Xuanzhou paper.Cai Lun’s disciple Kong dan living on papermaking always wanted to make ideal white paper but failed in many experiments Later he saw a fallen sandalwood tree beside a mountain stream looked white in water on a mountain，so he made Xuanzhou paper with such bark Xuanzhou paper characterized by flexible texture，white color，strong suction power and smoothness is reputed as”paper capable of lasting one thousand years”and is the best choice for calligraphers
The ink stone is a tool for grinding coloring material for calligraphy and painting. It was used extensively in the Han Dynasty, and numerous varieties emerged in the late feudal period of the ming Dynasty(1368-1644) and the Qing dynasty(1644-1911), including the four famous types of ink stones Duanzhou ink stones, She ink stones, Tao ink stones and Jiangzhou mud ink stones. These exquisite ink stones with beautiful shapes, even if not used for calligraphy and painting, can also be admired to cultivate moral character and develop temperament
