A traditional artist’s tool for calligraphy and painting is an ink brush. The ink brush, which was invented by the Chinese, has a fine tapered point that is ideal for creating delicate line and tone variations. The hair of an animal such as a goat or a rabbit is used to make high-quality ink brushes. Bamboo is commonly used for the brush handle, but other materials such as jade or ivory can also be used.
Depending on the type of animal hair used, ink brushes have varying degrees of flexibility. A goat hair brush is softer, while a rabbit hair brush is firmer. Weasel hair brushes are extremely stiff. A high-quality ink brush, according to experts, should have a long, semi-transparent tip.
The hair on ink brushes is also different lengths. The artist’s choice of ink brush is determined by personal preference and the subject matter. Brushes that are small are best for small designs. Paintings benefit from large ink brushes.
The quality of each line and the excellence of the brushstroke are two of the most important aspects of traditional East Asian calligraphy and painting. Color, shape, and texture are important in Western art, but in traditional East Asian painting and calligraphy, they are less so. To create the right brush stroke and line quality with an ink brush, the artist must have excellent hand-eye coordination. In calligraphy, especially, the brush stroke must exude self-assurance. Any hesitation or hesitancy will show up in the artwork.
Several ink brushes have a long history in China and are still manufactured there. Examples include the xuan writing brush and the huzhou ink brush. The xuan writing brush was the preferred writing instrument of Chinese scholars as far back as the Jin Dynasty. Along with xuan writing paper, the ink stick from Huizhou, and the ink stone from Duanxi, the huzhou ink brush is considered one of the “four treasures of study.”
The artist grinds an ink stick on an ink stone and adds water in traditional Chinese calligraphy and painting. The artist has the ability to create ink with varying degrees of opacity. The opacity of the ink, or its darkness or lightness, is a critical factor in creating shading and tone in Chinese and Japanese paintings.
East Asian calligraphy and painting were heavily influenced by Chinese style. According to some accounts, the first well-known calligrapher in Japan was a Chinese man. Ink brushes were used by both the Chinese and the Japanese for calligraphy and painting. After a while, the Japanese developed their own style, which was less structured and more fluid than the Chinese style.