Hou Dian Writing Brushes

Hou Dian Writing Brushes

　　Produced in Hengshui, Hebei Province.

　　The brush-making industry in Hou Dian began in the second year of the Yongle era during the Ming Dynasty and flourished in the Qing Dynasty. Legend has it that during the Guangxu reign of the Qing Dynasty, a brush artisan named Li Wenkui from Hou Dian opened a brush shop in Beijing. His brushes were so exquisitely made that they caught the attention of an eunuch who was fond of calligraphy. On one occasion, he recommended Li Wenkui’s brushes to Emperor Guangxu, who found them excellent after trying them out. He then honored them as “Imperial Court Brushes,” and their reputation soared. Scholars and officials in Beijing competed to purchase Li Wenkui’s “Hou Dian Writing Brushes,” and the brush shop thrived more than ever. Since then, Hou Dian’s distinctive brush-making craftsmanship has been passed down through generations.

　　The main materials for Hou Dian writing brushes are animal hair and tail hair. Through experimentation, over 40 types of hair have been selected, including weasel tail hair, civet tail hair, badger hair, goat hair from the southern mountains, and ox ear hair. Hair collected in winter is considered the best. The brushes are made through five major processes—soaking, drying, detailing, character engraving on straight tubes, and packaging—and a total of seventy-three fine steps, yielding brushes of various specifications, shapes, and uses.

　　They are known for being resilient yet flexible, having high ink capacity, and resisting shedding.