The Four Treasures of the Scholar's House, as they were called in ancient China, are the four treasures of the scholar's house: qin, chess, calligraphy and painting OR ink, paper and inkstone.

The "Four Treasures of the House of Letters" refer to the brush, ink, paper and inkstone, specifically the brush, black ink, rice paper and ink stone.

The name of pen, ink, paper and inkstone originated in the period of the North and South Dynasties. Historically, "pen, ink, paper, ink stone" refers to things have changed. In the Southern Tang Dynasty, "pen, ink, paper, inkstone" refers to Xuancheng Zhuge pen, Huizhou Li Tinggui ink, Chengxintang paper, Huizhou wuyuan dragon's tail inkstone.

As the hometown of the Four Treasures, Xuancheng, Anhui Province, is the most authentic place of origin of the Four Treasures and the world-renowned "Hometown of the Four Treasures of China", and the Xuanpaper (Jingxian County), Xuanpens (Jingxian County/Jingde), Huizhou Ink (Jixi/Jingde), Xuan inkstones (Jingde), are world-renowned, and have been sought after by literati and ink-smiths throughout the ages.

Paper, is a great invention of China, the world's paper varieties, although millions of counting, but "Xuan paper" is still for the brush painting and calligraphy with a unique handmade paper, Xuan paper texture is flexible, white and smooth, color and lustre, durable, absorbent, in the international "paper life of a thousand years! "reputation.

Brush, is the ancient Chinese and Western national writing style with feathers is very different from the unique writing, painting tools. Although the world today popular pencils, ballpoint pens, fountain pens, etc., but the brush is no substitute.

According to legend, the brush was created by Mengtian, so far known as the hometown of the brush Hengshui County, Hebei Houdian on the third day of the third month of the lunar calendar, as New Year's Eve, families wrapped dumplings, drinking to celebrate, in honor of Mengtian created the brush. Since the Yuan Dynasty, Huzhou, Zhejiang Province, the production of "sharp, round, healthy" characteristics of the "Lake Pen" has become the country's most famous variety of brushes.

Ink is the coloring material for writing and painting. Tang Dynasty ink maker Xi Chao, Xi Ting father and son of good ink, by the South Tang Dynasty after the Lord Li Yu's appreciation, the family gave the national surname "Li". Li ink became famous all over the world. In the Song Dynasty, the origin of Li ink in Shexian County was renamed Huizhou, "Li ink" was renamed "Huizhou ink".

Inkstone, commonly known as inkstone, is China's writing, painting and grinding color tools. Han Dynasty when the inkstone has been popular, the Song Dynasty has been widely used, Ming and Qing Dynasties, a wide variety of varieties, appeared in what is known as the "four great inkstones" of the Tao inkstone, Duan inkstone, She inkstone and chengyi inkstone. Ancient Chinese literati attached great importance to the inkstone, not only the whole day with, and after death, but also with the burial.

The Four Treasures is unique, it is not only the expression of the Chinese people different from other national customs, but also for the world culture and national culture has contributed to the progress and development. Today, China is in a new period of modernization. Understanding the excellent Chinese culture of the past is precisely the way to create a new culture for the future. This is extremely important for raising national self-esteem and strengthening national cohesion.

Baidu Encyclopedia - Wen Fang Si Bao