The basic introduction of Hengshui brush
Hengshui has been rich in brushes since ancient times and is known as the "holy land of brushes". Its main production area, Houdian Brigade, is known as the "hometown of calligraphy brushes" in northern China by the world. Every year on the third day of the third lunar month, artists from the Hengshui brush production area gather together like Chinese New Year to commemorate the founder of the brush, Meng Tian. According to relevant literature records, "Qin Mengtian began using rabbit hair bamboo tubes as his pen." This day was on the third day of the third lunar month. During the reign of Emperor Guangxu of the Qing Dynasty, Hengshui brush artist Li Wenkui opened a brush shop in Beijing, and a eunuch who loved calligraphy became his brother. He often bought the calligraphy brushes he made into the palace and was appreciated by the emperor. Hengshui brush is exquisitely crafted and of excellent quality. Its brush head is made from carefully selected animal hair with strong elasticity and toughness, such as yellow wolf tail, fragrant civet tail, and Nanshan wool, and processed meticulously.
Therefore, the pen tip has the characteristics of moderate toughness, a balance of rigidity and softness, high ink content, and durability. The pen tubes are mostly made of fine craftsmanship of bamboo in the south of China, such as bamboo, hyacinth bamboo, xiangfei bamboo, white faced bamboo, purple bamboo, mottled bamboo and precious mahogany. The mouth and top are often made of materials such as teeth, bones, corners, bamboo, and wood carving, and are assembled and set using craftsmanship, which is very exquisite and unique. Hengshui has a wide variety of brush varieties and exquisite decoration. Only the brush factory of Houdian Brigade has created more than 170 new varieties such as Fengyun, Shuiyue, and Guyu. Some of them have reliefs of "single dragon disk pillar", "two dragons playing with pearls" and "dragons playing with phoenixes", while others have carvings of characters such as "Mu Guiying leading the army", "Cowherd and Weaver Girl" and "Fortune, wealth, longevity and happiness", and some even have famous poems, adding a magnificent charm to the calligraphy brush, which is the first of the "Four Treasures of the Study".