What is the brush made of?
As one of the four traditional treasures of the Chinese study, the writing brush has a long history and exquisite craftsmanship. With the revival of traditional culture, the materials and techniques for making brushes have once again become a hot topic. This article will combine the popular discussions on the Internet in the past 10 days to introduce in detail the materials, techniques and cultural value of the brush.
1. Materials for making brushes

The core materials of a brush include the tip, barrel and adhesive. The following is a detailed classification of the main materials of brushes:
| parts | Material | Features |
|---|---|---|
| pen tip | Wool, wolf hair (weasel hair), rabbit hair, horse hair, pig bristles, etc. | Different softness, elasticity and ink absorbency, suitable for different calligraphy styles |
| pen holder | Bamboo, wood, jade, ivory, horn, etc. | Lightweight and durable, some materials have collectible value |
| glue | Natural glue (such as isinglass), modern synthetic glue | Bonding the pen tip and pen holder affects the service life |
2. The production process of brushes
The production process of writing brushes is complicated and is divided into multiple processes such as material selection, combing, tying the brush, and installing the rod. The following are the key steps in making traditional brushes:
| steps | Description | Time consuming |
|---|---|---|
| Select wool | Screen animal hair according to hair quality, length and elasticity | 1-3 days |
| comb | Remove stray hairs and arrange them in layers according to length | 2-5 hours |
| Tie a pen | Tie the pen tip with thin wire to adjust the shape | 1-2 hours |
| Assembling the pole | Glue the pen tip to the pen barrel and let dry | 1-3 days |
3. The cultural value and popular discussions of writing brushes
Recently, discussions about brushes have mainly focused on the following aspects:
1.renaissance of traditional culture: With the rise of traditional Chinese studies, brush calligraphy has become a new fashion sought after by young people. On social platforms, the number of views on content such as brush unboxing and production process demonstrations has surged.
2.environmental controversy: Some netizens question whether the use of animal hair such as wolf hair is in line with modern environmental protection concepts and call for the use of artificial materials instead.
3.Craft inheritance: The national-level intangible cultural heritage "Lake Pen Production Technique" has received widespread attention, and related documentaries and live broadcasts have attracted a large number of viewers.
4. How to choose a brush that suits you
According to popular reviews and expert recommendations across the Internet, the following factors need to be considered when choosing a brush:
| calligraphy type | Recommended pen tip material | price range |
|---|---|---|
| regular script | Sheep hair (soft) | 50-300 yuan |
| running script | Both hair (mixed hair) | 80-500 yuan |
| cursive | Langhao (good elasticity) | 150-1000 yuan |
5. Tips for maintaining brushes
Based on recent popular discussions, we have compiled the following brush maintenance suggestions:
1.Start writing: When using a new pen for the first time, it needs to be soaked in warm water and cannot be forcibly rubbed.
2.Clean: Wash the ink thoroughly after use to prevent the pen tip from hardening.
3.hanging: After washing, the pen tip should be hung downward to dry to prevent moisture from flowing back and corroding the pen barrel.
4.Storage: When not in use for a long time, it needs to be protected from moisture and insects, and mothballs can be placed.
Conclusion
The writing brush is not only a writing tool, but also a symbol of Chinese culture. With the inheritance and innovation of production techniques, calligraphy brushes have taken on new vitality in modern society. Understanding the materials and techniques used to make brushes can help us better appreciate and use this cultural treasure.
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