View source for Four Treasures of the Study

{{Short description|Instruments in East Asian calligraphy traditions}}
{{ref improve|date=December 2013}}
{{Use mdy dates|date = February 2019}}
{{Use American English|date = February 2019}}

{{chinese
| pic = 4 trésors du lettre.jpg
| t = [[wiktionary:文房四寶|文房四寶]]
| s = [[wiktionary:文房四宝|文房四宝]]
| p = wén fáng sì bǎo
| poj = bûn-pông sù-pó
| tl = bûn-pông sù-pó
| j = man4 fong2 sei3 bou2
| vie = 
| kanji = [[wiktionary:文房四宝|文房四宝]]
| romaji = Bunbō shihō
| hangul = 문방사우
| hanja = 文房四友
| qn = văn phòng tứ bảo
| chuhan = 文房四寶
| t2 = 紙墨筆硯
| s2 = 纸墨笔砚
| j2 = zi2 mak6 bat1 jin6
| poj2 = choá-ba̍k-pit-hīⁿ
| tl2 = tsuá-ba̍k-pit-hīnn
| p2 = zhǐ mò bǐ yàn
| rr = Munbangsau
| kana = ぶんぼうしほう
}}

'''Four Treasures of the Study''' is an expression used to denote the [[ink brush|brush]], [[inkstick|ink]], [[Xuan paper|paper]] and [[ink stone]] used in [[Chinese calligraphy]] and spread into other [[East Asia]]n<ref>{{cite web|url=https://vnexpress.net/cuu-giam-doc-thu-vien-me-co-vat-xu-nghe-4044163.html|title=Cựu giám đốc thư viện mê cổ vật xứ Nghệ|website=VnExpress}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nfm.go.kr/k-box/ui/sarangbang/fourtreasures.do;jsessionid=EFFD4D46C9F46C9EA581D6EAA8893429?lang=ko|title=남성의 애장품, 문방사우와 서안|website=National Folk Museum of Korea}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://style.nikkei.com/article/DGXBZO55685300R30C13A5000000/|title=「文房四宝」を半減させるな！|website=Nikkei}}</ref> [[Calligraphy|calligraphic]] traditions. The name appears to originate in the time of the [[Southern and Northern Dynasties]] (420–589 AD).<ref name="ctoday">Chinesetoday.com. "[http://www.chinesetoday.com/news/show/id/9689 Chinesetoday.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616193502/http://www.chinesetoday.com/news/show/id/9689 |date=June 16, 2011 }}." ''趣談「文房四寶」.'' Retrieved on 2010-11-27.</ref>

==Four Treasures==
The Four Treasures is expressed in a [[Chengyu|four-word couplet]]: "''The four treasures of the study: Brush, Ink, Paper, Inkstone.''" ({{zh|t=|s=|poj=|p=Wén fáng sì bǎo: bǐ, mò, zhǐ, yàn|c=文房四寶：筆、墨、紙、硯}})<ref name="ctoday" /><ref name="big5x">Big5.xinhuanet.com. "[http://big5.xinhuanet.com/gate/big5/www.godpp.gov.cn/yxzp_/2007-10/23/content_11468094.htm Big5.xinhuanet.com]." ''走近文房四寶.'' Retrieved on 2010-11-27.</ref> In the couplet mentioned, each of the Treasures is referred to by a single [[epithet]]; however, each of these are usually known by a compound name (''i.e.'' [[ink brush|The Brush]]: {{zh|c=毛筆|poj=|p=máobǐ}}, literally "''hair/brush pencil''). The individual treasures have a "treasured" form, each being produced in certain areas of China as a speciality for those scholars who would use them.

===Brush===
{{Main|Ink brush}}

[[File:CMOC Treasures of Ancient China exhibit - calligraphy brush with dragon design.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.2|A highly decorative badger hair brush dating to the [[Ming Dynasty]].]] The brush ({{zh|t=毛筆|s=毛笔|poj=|p=máo bǐ}}, Korean: 붓 ''but'', Vietnamese: 筆 ''bút'', Japanese: 筆 ''fude'', Ryukyuan: ''fudi'') is the oldest of the Four Treasures, with archaeological evidence dating to [[Zhou dynasty]] (1045 BC–256 BC) illustrations on ancient bones. The oldest brush so far dates to [[Han dynasty]] (202 BC–220 AD). Brushes are generally made from animal hair, or —in certain situations—the first hair taken from a baby's head (said to bring good luck in the [[Imperial examinations]]). Brush handles are commonly constructed from [[bamboo]], but special brushes may have handles of [[sandalwood]], [[jade]], carved bone/ivory, or other precious materials.

Modern brushes are primarily white goat hair (羊毫), black rabbit hair (紫毫), yellow weasel hair (黄鼠毫/狼毫), or a combination mix. Ancient brushes, and some of the more valuable ones available on the market may be made with the hair of any number of animals. Each type of hair has a specific ink capacity, giving distinct brush strokes. Different brushes are used for different styles of calligraphy and writing.

Brushes are classed as soft (軟毫), mixed (兼毫) or hard (硬毫). Hair is laboriously sorted by softness, hardness, thickness, & length, then bundled for specific uses. The most famous and highly prized brushes are a mix of yellow weasel, goat and rabbit hair, known as Húbǐ (湖筆); highly prized since the [[Ming dynasty]] (late 14th century) they are currently made in [[Shanlian]] (善琏), a town in the [[Nanxun District]], [[prefecture-level city]] of [[Huzhou]], of [[Zhejiang province]] (浙江).

===Ink===
{{Main|Inkstick}}

[[File:Inkstick.jpg|upright|thumb|An inkstick made in the form of lotus leaves and flowers.]]The Inkstick ({{Zh|c=墨|s=|t=|poj=|p=}}; [[pinyin]]: ''{{audio|Zh-mò.ogg|mò|help=no}}'', Korean: 묵 ''muk,'' Vietnamese: 墨 ''mực'', Japanese: 墨 ''sumi'', Ryukyuan: ''shimi'') is an artificial ink developed during the [[Han dynasty]]. These first writing inks were based on naturally occurring minerals like [[graphite]] and [[vermilion]]; earliest inks were probably liquids and not preserved. Modern inksticks are generally made of soots from one of three sources, including [[lacquer]] [[soot]], [[pine]] soot, and [[oil]] soot. Soots are collected, then mixed with glue. Higher quality inksticks also use powdered spices and herbs, adding to aroma and providing some protection to the ink itself. The glue, soot, and spice mixture is then pressed into shape and allowed to dry. This process can take 6 weeks, depending on an inkstick's dimensions.

The best ink sticks are fine grained and have a light, slightly ringing sound when tapped. They are often decorated with poems, calligraphy, or [[bas relief]], and painted. These particular articles are highly collectable, and often acquired like stamps. The inksticks in highest regard, known as Huīmò (徽墨), contain [[musk]], [[borneol]] and other precious [[aromatics]] of [[Chinese medicine]]. They are still produced today in [[She County, Anhui|Shexian]] (歙县) in [[Anhui province]] (安徽).

===Paper===
{{Main|Xuan Paper}}

[[File:Treatise On Calligraphy.jpg|thumb|upright|A detail from ''The Treatise on Calligraphy'' by [[Sun Guoting]] (646–691). Ink on Paper.]]Paper ({{zh|t=紙|s=纸|poj=|p=}}; Pinyin: ''{{audio|Zh-zhǐ.ogg|zhǐ|help=no}}'', Korean: 종이 ''jong'i,'' Vietnamese: 絏 ''giấy,'' Japanese: 紙 ''kami'') was first developed in China in the first decade of 100 AD. Previous to its invention, [[Bamboo and wooden slips|bamboo slips]] and silks were used for writing material. Several methods of paper production developed over the centuries in China. However, the paper which was considered of highest value was that of the Jingxian (泾县) in Anhui province.

This particular form of paper, known as Xuānzhǐ (宣紙), is soft, fine-textured, moth resistant, has a high tensile strength, and remarkable longevity for such a product – so much so that it has a reputation for lasting "1,000 years". The quality of the paper depends on the processing methods used to produce it. Paper may be unprocessed, half processed or processed. The processing determines how well ink or paint is absorbed into the fibre of the paper, as well as the stiffness of the paper itself. Unprocessed papers are very absorbent and quite malleable, whereas processed papers are far more resistant to absorption and are stiffer.

===Inkstone===
{{Main|Inkstone}}

[[File:Duan Inkstone.JPG|left|thumb|A Duan Inkstone in the shape of a pond.]]The inkstone (Chinese: {{zh|t=硯|s=砚|poj=|p=}}; Pinyin: ''{{audio|Zh-yàn.ogg|yàn|help=no}},'' Korean: 벼루 ''byeoru,'' Vietnamese: 硯 ''nghiên,'' Japanese: 硯 ''suzuri'') is used to grind the ink stick into powder. This powder is then mixed with water in a well in the inkstone in order to produce usable ink for calligraphy. The most ideal water for use in ink is slightly salty. Ink was first prepared using a mortar and pestle, but with the advent of inksticks this method slowly vanished. The stone used is generally of a relatively fine whetstone type.

The earliest known inkstones date back to the [[Han dynasty]]. The production of inkstones reached its zenith in the [[Tang dynasty|Tang]] and [[Song dynasty|Song dynasties]] with inkstones becoming extremely intricate works of art. The most highly sought-after inkstones originated in four locations in China. Duanshi stones (端石硯) from Duanxi in [[Guangdong]], She stones (歙硯) from [[She County, Anhui|Shexian]] in [[Anhui]], [[Taohe]] stones (洮河硯) from the [[Tao River]] in South [[Gansu]] and Chengni ceramic stones (澄泥硯) which are manufactured by a process which is said to have been developed in [[Luoyang]] in [[Henan]].

==Tools of the Scholar==
Classical scholars had more than just the Four treasures in their studies. The other "Treasures" include the [[brush-holder]] (笔架), brush-hanger (笔挂), [[paperweight]]s (镇纸), the brush-rinsing pot (笔洗), and the [[Seal (East Asia)|seal]] (圖章) and seal-ink (印泥).

For painting, [[Chinese pigment]]s are also used.

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed">
File:East Asian calligraphy scheme 01-en.svg|Inkstone and inkstick
File:East Asian calligraphy scheme 02-en.svg|Seal and seal paste
File:East Asian calligraphy scheme 03-en.svg|Paper, paperweight and desk pad
File:East Asian calligraphy scheme 04-en.svg|Brushes; head types, compositions and brush sizes
</gallery>

==See also==
* [[Four Gentlemen]]
* [[Three Friends of Winter]]
* [[Mirror Flower, Water Moon]]
* [[East Asian calligraphy|East Asian calligraphy styles]]:
** [[Chinese calligraphy]]
** [[Japanese calligraphy]]
** [[Korean calligraphy]]
** [[Vietnamese calligraphy]]
* [[Bamboo and wooden slips]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{Wiktionary-inline}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Four Treasures Of The Study}}
[[Category:East Asian calligraphy]]
[[Category:Visual arts materials]]
[[Category:Chinese calligraphy]]
[[Category:Chinese culture-related lists|4 Four Treasures]]
[[Category:Writing implements]]