Brushing up a legacy

Perfecting the craft

The complete crafting process of a Huzhou writing brush comprises eight procedures, meticulously subdivided into 128 steps, according to Qiu Changming, a national-level inheritor of the craftsmanship.

The 74-year-old is one of the writing brush master artisans in Shanlian town of Huzhou.

Artisans in the town have worshipped General Meng as the forefather of the writing brush for thousands of years. While Meng seemingly didn't actually invent the brush, he is still believed to have, in reality, improved the materials and techniques used to produce it, Qiu says.

Over generations, artisans in Huzhou have continuously honed their craft, driven by the patronage of esteemed calligraphers like Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi during the Eastern Jin Dynasty (317-420), as well as literary figures, such as Du Mu in the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and Su Shi in the Song Dynasty, all of whom once worked in this region.

The pinnacle of demand arrived with the renowned calligrapher Zhao Mengfu, a native of Huzhou, during the end of the Song and the start of the Yuan.

Zhao, who's known for his unwavering dedication, was reputed to inscribe 10,000 characters daily over a remarkable span of 60 years. Echoing the wisdom of Confucius that emphasizes the importance of tool preparation for excellence in work, Zhao carefully attended to his brushes, frequently commissioning artisans for their maintenance. To meet his standard, artisans needed to choose the best fur from 10 good brushes to make just one.