Introduction of making skills of lake pen

The skill of making Hu Bi is one of the traditional handicraft skills of Han nationality, which is named after it was produced in Huzhou, Zhejiang Province. Lake pen is made by hand, and the making process is very complicated. From the import of raw materials to the factory, a lake pen generally needs to go through twelve major processes, such as material selection, basin, knot, sleeve, pier, embedding, pen selection and lettering, and then subdivided into more than 120 small processes. Among many processes, the four processes, namely, material selection, birdbath, knotting and pen selection, are the most demanding and particular, especially birdbath and pen selection. The main working procedure is handled by technicians, with fine materials and exquisite production, with special emphasis on Feng Ying. Craftsmen adhere to the principle of "precision, purity and beauty" and produce finished lake pens with four virtues of "sharpness, uniformity, roundness and health". On May 20th, 2006, the skill of making tiger skin was approved by the State Council to be included in the first batch of national intangible cultural heritage list.