We often hear about the "Four Treasures of the Study", I believe everyone knows that it refers to pen, ink, paper, and inkstone. These four were the daily learning and creative tools of the ancient literati. They are not only tools for writing and painting, but also carriers of cultural inheritance, witnessing the birth and circulation of countless classic works. They themselves are also an important part of traditional Chinese culture.
1️⃣ Pen: As the first of writing, the brush has become the best choice for writing Chinese characters with its unique softness and expressiveness. Pens, of different materials and processes, can present their own distinctive calligraphy styles, such as Wang Xizhi's "Orchid Pavilion Preface" is the pinnacle of brush art.
2️⃣ Ink: The ancient ink-making process is exquisite, the ink color is divided into five colors, and the shade of dry and wet is full of charm. Good ink is not only black and bright in color, but also timeless, and is an important medium for literati and artists to pursue artistic expression.
3️⃣ Paper: With its unique permeability and toughness, Xuan paper has become an ideal paper for writing and painting. It can not only carry the flowing beauty of ink, but also be preserved for a long time without being easy to fade, providing a reliable material basis for the circulation of Chinese classics.
4️⃣ Inkstone: The inkstone is not only a tool for grinding ink, but also an elegant play on the desk of the literati. A good inkstone often combines the beauty of stone and the art of carving, and has become a symbol of the spiritual world of the literati.
Through the Four Treasures of the Scholar's Room, the ancient literati wrote countless classics of Chinese culture, which not only included poetry and songs, subsets of classics and history, but also covered philosophical thoughts, moral ethics, artistic aesthetics and other fields, which together constituted a broad and profound system of Chinese culture.