The four treasures of the study, namely pen, ink, paper and inkstone, are unique calligraphy and painting tools in China. The name "Four Treasures of the Study" originated from the Northern and Southern Dynasties. In the Southern Tang Dynasty, the four treasures of the study specifically referred to Zhuge's brush in Xuancheng, Anhui, Li Tinggui's ink in Huizhou, Anhui, Chengxintang paper in Huizhou, Anhui, and Longwei inkstone in Wuyuan, Huizhou, Anhui.
The four treasures of the study, which refers to the four types of calligraphy and painting utensils: pen, ink, paper, and inkstone, are common knowledge today. However, where and when the term "Four Treasures of the Study" originated from is still unclear. For example, in "Cihai", the term "Four Treasures of the Study" is like this, which is the general term for the four kinds of stationery: pen, ink, paper, and inkstone in the old days. The study room is called the study room. Su Yi Jian of the Northern Song Dynasty wrote the "Four Treasures of the Study Room", known as the "Four Treasures of the Study Room", which describes the types and stories of these four kinds of stationery.
Brush, ink, paper, and inkstone have become the most important writing and painting utensils in the study during the Song Dynasty, as evidenced by archaeological discoveries. For example, in the tomb of Xu Jun of the Southern Song Dynasty discovered in Chayuan Mountain, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, it was found that a complete set of the Four Treasures of the Study was buried with him. Another example is the mural tomb of the Zhang Wenzao family of the Liao Dynasty in Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province. There is more than one picture of the Four Treasures of the Study, which is the earliest painting ever seen that uses pen, ink, paper and inkstone in one place. Among them, in the mural of children playing in Tomb No. 7, there is a cabinet with four children hiding in the back. The excavators thought it was a food box, but some researchers believe that it should be a study utensil, which can store papers, scrolls, letters, etc.