In ancient Four Treasures of the Study, ink was called "gold is not exchanged" by the ancients.
Yuan Jian Han Lei's Mohist Scripture in the Qing Dynasty recorded: "If you use it every day, you will only get half a cent at the age of one, and you will not change it if you use it." This sentence shows the preciousness and durability of ink. In addition, Su Zhe's poems in the Song Dynasty also mentioned a similar concept: "A thousand dollars is not exchanged for elixir, but everything needs cloth." These expressions highlight the ancient people's high evaluation and cherish of ink.
Four Treasures of the Study:
It is a unique painting and calligraphy tool in China, namely pen, ink, paper and inkstone.
The name of Four Treasures of the Study originated in the Southern and Northern Dynasties.
Historically, what "Four Treasures of the Study" refers to has changed frequently. Four Treasures of the Study in Southern Tang Dynasty refers to Zhuge Bi in Xuancheng, Anhui, Li Tinggui Ink in Huizhou, Chengxin Tang Paper in Huizhou, Anhui, and Weilong inkstone in Wuyuan, Anhui.
Since the Song Dynasty, "Four Treasures of the Study" refers to Xu Anbi (Xuancheng, Anhui), Huimo (Shexian and Huizhou, Anhui), Xuan Paper (Jingxian and Xuancheng, Anhui), (Shexian and Huizhou, Anhui), (Zhuoni, Gansu) and Duanyan (Zhaoqing, Guangdong, formerly known as Duanzhou).
After Yuan Dynasty, Hubi (Huzhou, Zhejiang) became popular gradually, while Xu Anbi gradually declined. After the reform and opening up, Xu Anbi gradually recovered its vitality.
Paper:
This is a great invention of China. Although there are tens of millions of kinds of paper in the world, "Xuan paper" is still a unique handmade paper for brush painting and calligraphy. Xuan paper is flexible, white and smooth, durable in color and strong in water absorption, and has the international reputation of "paper lives for thousands of years".
Brush:
It is a unique writing and painting tool with different styles between ancient China and western countries. Although pencils, ballpoint pens, pens, etc. In today's world, the writing brush is irreplaceable.
Ink:
It is a coloring material for writing and painting. The fine ink made by Chao Heting, a famous Mohist in the Tang Dynasty, was appreciated by Li Yu, the queen of the Southern Tang Dynasty, and the whole family took "Li" as the national surname. From the world-famous "Li Mo". In the Song Dynasty, Shexian, the birthplace of Li Mo, was renamed Huizhou, and Li Mo was renamed Huimo.
Inkstone:
Commonly known as inkstone, it is a tool for China to write, draw and grind pigments. Ink was very popular in Han Dynasty, but it was widely used in Song Dynasty. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, there were many kinds of inkstones, including Yan Tao, Duanyan, She Yan and Chengni, and they were called "four famous inkstones". The literati in ancient China attached great importance to inkstone, not only accompanied them all the time, but also used it as a martyr after death.