The Four Treasures: Brush, Ink, Paper, and Inkstone

The Chinese writing brush (maobi) made Chinese calligraphy possible. Made from animal hair mounted in bamboo, the maobi has been the primary instrument of Chinese writing and painting for over two thousand years.

The Four Treasures of the Study

Brush, inkstick (mo), inkstone (yan), and Xuan paper together constitute the complete apparatus of Chinese literary and artistic culture. Xuan paper absorbs ink creating subtle gradations, essential to the aesthetic of calligraphy.

Calligraphy as Discipline

The quality of a brush determines the quality of calligraphy. Traditional ink, properly stored, remains usable for centuries. Today, as digital technology transforms writing, these tools remain in active use in calligraphy schools and studios.