a study of four treasures of chinese study 文房四宝英文介绍-学位论文.docVIP

A Study of “Four Treasures of Chinese Study” 1. Introduction Traditional tools and materials of Chinese calligraphy are basically evolved from writing brushes, ink sticks, paper and inkstones, which are usually called as “Scholars’ Four Jewels”or the four treasures of Chinese study (See Pic.1). As most ancient Chinese scholars could write or draw, or manage both of the skills, they could not live without these four treasures. The name of “Chinese study” could be traced back to the Southern and Northern Dynasties (420-589) in Chinese history and especially means scholars’ studies. (Zhang et al, 2008) Writing brushes, ink sticks, paper and inkstones are used in study, therefore people praise the four objects as the four treasures of Chinese study. Except for the four treasures of Chinese study, study tools also include ink cartridges, ink and pen holders, pen rack beds, arm rests, writing brush washers, book towns, water scoops, inkstones, seal boxes, cutting knives, stamps,etc. (Zhang et al, 2008) Pic.1 Four treasures of Chinese study. Source: /show/4/141/3814957k671a5671.html） Till the Song Dynasty (960-1127), writing brushes, ink sticks, paper and inkstones have become the important writing and painting tools in the study, archaeology can also prove it. For instance, in the tomb of Xu Jun of the Southern Song Dynasty in Fouzhou city, Fujian Province, researchers found the whole set of the four treasures of Chinese study as burial objects. (Zhang, 2004) Another example is that on the wall painting Zhang Wenzao’s family tomb in the Liao Dynasty in Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province, there are several images about the writing brushes, ink sticks, paper and inkstones. These facts present that the four treasures have gradually formed a broad social practical basis in such a long history and finally became a special word in the Song Dynasty. (Zhang et al, 2008) In order to know and resume the relations between ancient writing and painting tools with the study and the scholars’