Wang Boli Brush

Last updated 2026-11-16 — A renowned brush from the Song Dynasty, and one of the Four Treasures of the Study from Huizhou. According to the New Annals of Xin'an, during the Northern Song Dynasty, Wang Boli from She County established the "Hall of Four Treasures" in the prefectural capital of Shezhou. The hall produced all four treasures—brush, ink, paper, and inkstone—but it was particularly famous for its brushes. Also known as the "Huizhou Brush," the Wang Boli Brush was made with carefully selected materials, exquisitely crafted, and given ingeniously crafted names. Many sets of brushes were produced, some named after famous mountains such as Huangshan, Baiyue, and Piyun Peak, others after scenic waters like the Xin'an River, Jian River, and Lian Water, and still others after landscapes and historic sites such as "Shattered Stone Silver Light," "Wenzheng Jade Shoots," and "Golden Shed Osmanthus Branches." The materials used for these brush sets were extremely refined, featuring ceramic brush handles with blue-and-white designs specially made in Jingdezhen, and brush tips made from various types of animal hair. Sometimes, only one percent of the hair from a pound of fur would be selected to make a single brush tip. Such "one-hair-selected-from-a-thousand" masterpieces were often tribute items, naturally kept deep within the imperial palace, and few physical examples have been passed down in later civilian times. (Huangshan)