Who invented the brush in Four Treasures of the Study?

The brush in Four Treasures of the Study was invented by Meng Tian, the general of Qin State.

In 223 BC, people usually dipped in ink to write on silk, which was very inconvenient. One day, when Meng Tian, the general of Qin State, was hunting, he saw a rabbit's tail dragging on the ground, and the blood dragged a winding trace on the ground. Meng Tian thought, "Isn't it better to write with rabbit tail instead of ordinary pen?" .

After returning to the barracks, Meng Tian cut off the rabbit's tail, put it on a bamboo tube, and tried to write with it, but the rabbit hair didn't absorb ink, and the words written on the silk were intermittent. However, Meng Tian is not willing to fail. He still spends time thinking about other ways to improve. After several experiments, he finally succeeded in inventing the writing brush.

Four Treasures of the Study 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.