What does Four Treasures of the Study mean?

Four Treasures of the Study refers to: pen, ink, paper and inkstone respectively. The name of "Four Treasures of the Study" originated in the Southern and Northern Dynasties. Since the Song Dynasty, "pen, ink, paper and inkstone" have specifically referred to Hu pen (Huzhou, Zhejiang Province), Hui ink (Huizhou, Anhui Province), Xuan paper (Xuanzhou, Anhui Province) and Duanzhou (Zhaoqing, Guangdong Province, formerly known as Duanzhou).

Four Treasures of the Study introduced in detail:

Brush: The brush is an important tool of Chinese traditional calligraphy. It can be said that Chinese calligraphy is the product of the development of the brush. China's brush has a long history. According to archaeological data, some patterns on painted pottery far away from Yangshao cultural site were drawn with brush. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, writing brushes were widely used in all countries, and Chu was called "Yu". Wu called it "irregular"; Yan is called "Fu". It was not until the Qin dynasty that it was officially named "pen" and it has been used ever since.

ink: ink is a black material used for painting and calligraphy. It was different from the brush pen in the same era. There was similar ink in Oracle Bone Inscriptions in the Shang Dynasty, but the ink at that time was only a kind of natural graphite. China's artificial ink began in the Warring States Period. The production of ink has always been very particular. The lampblack is as thick as paint, and the pine smoke is light and bright.

paper: paper is an important writing material, which is made of plant fibers. In ancient times, bamboo and wood were used as books, but in Qin dynasty, silk was used instead. Papermaking was invented in the Western Han Dynasty and improved by Cai Lun in the Eastern Han Dynasty, which opened up broad prospects for the development of China's paper industry.

inkstone: there were ink grinding tools in the Neolithic age. Inks in the present sense began to be used in the Tang Dynasty. The four famous inkstones in China are Duanyan inkstone in Zhaoqing, Guangdong, Shezhou inkstone in Anhui, Taohe inkstone in Taozhou, Gansu and Chengni inkstone in Luoyang, Henan.