Tale of the goat, rabbit and hair
The Helianqing writing brush belongs to the broad category of hubi - a type of writing brush produced in Huzhou of East China's Zhejiang Province, says Lin Zhenyu, who strives to revive the ancient tradition.
Besides hubi, traditional calligraphy and painting lovers also favor the xiangbi brushes produced in Changsha, Central China's Hunan Province, and xuanbi, which are made in Xuancheng, East China's Anhui Province.
Boasting of a history of more than 1,000 years, hubi was included on the List of Intangible Cultural Heritages under State Protection by the Ministry of Culture in May 2006.
Since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), calligraphers and painters have regarded hubi as a first choice among the "Four Treasures of the Study", says Zhang Qianfang, a researcher of hubi in Huzhou.
The three other "treasures" include huimo - ink sticks from Huizhou, in Anhui Province, duanyan - ink stones from Duanxi in Guangdong Province, and xuanzhi - rice paper from ancient Xuanzhou, in Anhui Province.
"Hubi is an integral part of our national culture. It should not be seen as a tool that has lost its glamor in the Internet era," Zhang says.
People in Huzhou believe General Meng Tian and his wife Bu Xianglian of the Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) created hubi. Local craftsmen still hold annual rituals to them every September 16 on the lunar calendar.
Visitors to the China Museum of Hubi and Memorial to Zhao Mengfu, in Huzhou, can find detailed records about the writing brush.
According to vice-curator Jiang Qin, top-rate hubi are made of goat hair, which is very flexible and resilient. The next-best substitutes include brown rabbit hair, weasel hair, and a mixture of goat and weasel hair. The shaft of a writing brush is usually crafted from red sandalwood, mottled bamboo, white porcelain or even ivory.
Craftsmen in Huzhou developed a complicated, 120-step working procedure for producing these brushes - a process that is much more sophisticated than those of other parts of the country. A high-quality hubi takes two to three months to complete.
Traditionally, women carry out most of the procedures, says Bu Zhen'e. The 62-year-old specializes in selecting the best goat hairs for the brush tips.
"Making writing brushes requires great care, extreme patience and a strong sense of responsibility," explains Bu, who began learning the craft at Shanlian, of Zhejiang Province, when she was 17.
China Daily
(China Daily 07/10/2007 page19)
