Four Treasures of Study

文房四寶

In China, calligraphy, which has endured for more than 2,000 years, occupies a distinguished position in the field of traditional art. It is not only a means of communication, but also a means of expressing a person's inner world in an aesthetic sense.

中國書法，已有兩千多年的歷史，它在中國傳統(tǒng)藝術(shù)中占有顯赫的地位。它不僅用來交流，也是人們表達內(nèi)心世界的手段，具有很高的審美價值。

Today, although various modern ways have been substituted for the original calligraphy, people still love the ancient form and practice it untiringly. During the traditional festivals, propitious couplets are always indispensable decorations each written in a beautiful style.

今天，雖然各種現(xiàn)代方式已經(jīng)取代了原來的書法，但人們?nèi)匀荤姁壅哌@種古老的藝術(shù)形式，而且樂此不疲。在傳統(tǒng)節(jié)日里，吉祥，美觀的書法對聯(lián)必不可少。

To practice Chinese calligraphy requires the basic tools of 'four treasures of study', namely writing brush, ink stick, paper, and ink slab.

要練習(xí)中國書法，必備“文房四寶”，即筆、墨、紙、硯。

The earliest writing brush that has been found is a relic of the Warring States Period. From that time onwards, the brush has evolved into many forms. The nib can be made from rabbit's hair, wool, horsehair, weasel's hair, or bristles, and so on; while the shaft may be made from bamboo, ivory, jade, crystal, gold, silver, porcelain, sandal, ox horn, etc. It is important to see that there can be both soft and hard brushes each producing their own particular styles.

中國最早的毛筆出現(xiàn)在戰(zhàn)國時期。隨后，經(jīng)歷了數(shù)次演變。筆尖可以使用兔毛、羊毛、馬鬃、狼毫或豬鬃等；而筆桿可以用竹子、象牙、玉石、水晶、金、銀、瓷器、檀木、牛角等。中國毛筆分為軟硬兩種，寫出的字各具風(fēng)格。

Drizzled with water, a good ink stick should be ground so as to be refined black with luster. With the invention of paper, it was improved accordingly. Since the Han Dynasty, ink sticks have been made from pine soot, using other procedures that include mixing with glue, steaming and molding.

上好的墨加水研磨，寫出的字漆黑光亮。隨著紙張的發(fā)明，墨也相應(yīng)得到了改進。漢代以來，墨就開始以松煙作為原料，主要工序包括和料、蒸制、成型等。

Paper making is among the 'four great inventions' and one of the great contributions that ancient Chinese people made to the world. Before the existence of paper, our ancestors utilized knots in cords to record events. It was Cai Lun who made the valuable contribution and his research gave rise to paper. Afterwards, many varieties of paper were produced of different quality and usage. The Xuan paper originally made in Anhui Province still shines with its charm today.

造紙術(shù)是中國古代四大發(fā)明之一，對世界的發(fā)展功不可沒。在紙出現(xiàn)之前，我們的祖先結(jié)繩記事。蔡倫的研究對紙的興起做出了巨大的貢獻。隨后，又出現(xiàn)了不同質(zhì)量、不同用途的紙張。但原產(chǎn)于安徽的宣紙至今仍為紙中上品。

The ink slab is the reputed head of the 'four treasures', for its sobriety and elegance have endured the passage of time. Through ink slabs, people can sample the artistic charm of sculpting and the ink stone's natural tints. Nearly all Chinese calligraphy enthusiasts hold that the star of ink slab is the Duanyan, ink slab produced in Duanzhou of Guangdong Province. It has its base of a purple hue and enjoys the poetic name 'purple clouds'. It was always a tribute to the royal families during the Tang Dynasty.

雖然時光流轉(zhuǎn)，但硯臺以其莊重典雅，為人們珍藏“文房四寶”之首選。一枚硯臺，人們可以感受其雕刻藝術(shù)的魅力和原石的自然色彩。產(chǎn)于廣東端州的端硯被中國書法愛好者稱為“眾硯之首”。紫色的端硯被稱為“紫云硯”。在唐代時就為朝廷貢品。

Chinese calligraphy is an ancient art of writing Chinese characters and the unique art of expression created by the Han people. It is known as the speechless poem, the motionless dance, the graph-free painting and soundless music.

中國書法是一門古老的漢字書寫藝術(shù)，為中華名族特有的藝術(shù)形式，被譽為：無言的詩，無行的舞，無圖的畫，無聲的樂。

Chinese calligraphy works carry the Chinese People’s personality, mood, idea, thoughts and soul. Today, as China develops rapidly, people from different countries and different cultures are eager to understand China more than ever. As a result, Chinese calligraphy and “the Four Treasures of Study” have been walking into the lives of people all over the world.

中國書法作品承載著中國人的人格、心境、觀念、思想和靈魂。今天，隨著中國的快速發(fā)展，不同國家和不同文化的人們比以往任何時候更想了解中國。中國書法及“文房四寶”也因此走向了世界。