Quick Answer: What Are the Four Treasures of the Study?
The Four Treasures of the Study (文房四宝, wénfáng sìbǎo) are the traditional brush, ink, paper and inkstone used for Chinese writing and ink painting. In a traditional setup, the inkstone and water prepare the ink, the brush carries it and the paper receives the mark. [1][2]
- Brush: A flexible tip carries ink and changes shape as the hand presses, lifts or turns. [2][3]
- Ink: A solid inkstick supplies the dark material for the liquid ink. [2]
- Paper: The sheet receives the mark, and its surface affects how the ink spreads. [3][6]
- Inkstone: Its grinding surface helps make liquid ink by rubbing the inkstick with water. [1][2]
The name describes four kinds of equipment. Famous regional examples are one way to see how each kind developed. [2][4][5][6]
A brush and paper explain part of a dark line. The consistency of the ink and the way the brush was loaded also shape what you see. That connection makes the four tools a useful way to read both Chinese calligraphy and ink painting.
What Each Treasure Does
| Treasure | 表現形式 | Job at the desk |
|---|---|---|
| Brush | A bundle of flexible hairs set into a handle | Holds liquid and changes the mark with pressure or movement. [2][3] |
| Ink | A solid stick or cake traditionally made with soot and a binder | Releases pigment into water when rubbed on the inkstone. [2] |
| Paper | A sheet made from fibers | Receives the stroke and influences the sharpness or spread of its edges. [3][6] |
| Inkstone | A slab, often with a working surface and recessed well | Provides a surface to rub the stick and a space that can hold liquid. [1][2] |
How the Four Materials Work Together
Traditional ink can be made with pine soot or soot from burning oil, combined with glue and formed into a hard cake. Rubbing a small amount of the material with water on a stone makes liquid ink. An inkstone can have a broad working surface beside a recessed well. The working area contacts the stick, while the well can collect ink or hold water, depending on the design. See Chinese inkstones for examples of those shapes. [1][2]
From there the brush transfers the liquid to paper. A narrow point can produce a thin mark, while pressure spreads the hairs to make a broader one. The amount of liquid and the absorbency of the sheet also affect the edges. A thick dark line might reflect pressure, a well-loaded brush, or the interaction of both with the paper. The effects matter to Chinese painting techniques as well as writing. [2][3][6]
Four Famous Regional Traditions
- Hu brush (湖笔, Húbǐ): Shanlian in Huzhou, Zhejiang, is associated with this handcrafted brush. Makers value a pointed tip, even hair ends, a rounded bundle and resilience. Those are qualities of the working tip, regardless of how the handle is decorated. Compare these traits with other Chinese calligraphy brushes. [4]
- Hui ink (徽墨, Huīmò): Historic Huizhou, including Shexian in Anhui, is associated with molded inksticks. The formulation and the design of the stick can both be aspects of the craft. [5]
- Xuan paper (宣纸, xuānzhǐ): The traditional craft in Jing County, Anhui, uses blue sandalwood bark and rice straw. The sheet’s combination of strength, smoothness and ink absorbency made Xuan paper useful for both writing and painting. [6]
- Duan inkstone (端砚, Duānyàn): Stone from the Zhaoqing area of Guangdong can have a fine, dense surface suited to ink grinding. Some pieces also use the stone’s natural colors and markings in carved designs. [2]
What Else Belonged on the Desk?
A brush pot, water vessel, seal or paperweight could sit alongside the four. For a first exercise, the simpler setup in Chinese calligraphy for beginners is enough. A paperweight steadies the sheet, and a water vessel helps supply the inkstone. An inkstick could be molded into a decorative form, and an inkstone could incorporate natural markings into a carved design. That attention to appearance helps explain why museums collect desk tools alongside the works they helped produce. [2][7]
FAQs About the Four Treasures of the Study
Are the Four Treasures Only for Calligraphy?
No. The traditional set also serves ink painting. The same brush can make written strokes or painted marks, depending on how the artist uses it. [1][3]
Does the Paper Have to Be Xuan Paper?
Paper is the broad category. Xuan paper is a specific tradition associated with Jing County. Other papers can serve for writing, painting or practice. [1][6][8]
Is an Inkstone Necessary With Bottled Ink?
Bottled ink is already liquid. A dish can hold it for use with a brush. An inkstone serves when you prepare liquid ink from an inkstick. [1][2][8]
出典
[1] Smithsonian National Museum of Asian Art. Four Treasures of the Scholar’s Studio
[2] The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Chinese Decorative Arts
[3] The Metropolitan Museum of Art. 中国書道
[4] 中国無形文化遺産ネットワーク. Hu Brush Making
[5] China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network. Hui Ink Making
[6] UNESCO. Traditional Handicrafts of Making Xuan Paper
[7] The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The Guennol Collection, Volume 2
[8] Columbia University, Asia for Educators. Classroom Exercise: Introduction to Chinese Calligraphy