Brush pen with cap, one of a pair

文房四寶

Four Treasures of a Scholar's Studio
The brush, inkstick, paper, and inkstone are collectively known as the "Four Treasures of a Scholar's Studio." With the same tools, Chinese artists created painting and calligraphy. Upon completion, one or more personal seal impressions were added, either below or by the signature.

筆

Brushes
The Chinese brush has two major components—hair and holder. The most important element is the hair, which may come from a deer, goat, sable, rabbit, or other animal, depending on the desired resilience and size of the brush. Carefully selected and graded, a bunch of hair forms a fine point, enabling artists to create desirable calligraphic brushwork.