Since the birth of human civilization, people have preserved the achievements of civilization in various ways, so that we can continue and develop our culture while appreciating the elegance and creation of our ancestors. In this process, the stationery in the study, especially "Four Treasures of the Study", as the carrier of civilization, plays an important role. In China's long history and culture, it has long been called "study", while pen, ink, paper and inkstone are called "Four Treasures of the Study". Among the cultural and artistic tools used in calligraphy and painting, only these four treasures are loved and treasured by literati.

Pen, ink, paper and inkstone are not called "Four Treasures of the Study" or "Four Gentlemen of the Study". The former originated from Mei's poem "Harmony with Zhangzhou Paper and Inks": "Four Treasures of the Study has left the two counties and enjoys the love of the monarch." The latter comes from Lu You's poem "Pen, ink, paper and inkstone play": "The water is heavy and the guests are scarce, and the four gentlemen in the study depend on each other." Because the literati cherish Four Treasures of the Study, they are given many nicknames.

Let's talk about the pen (writing brush) first. Pen has been used in China for four or five thousand years, and it still plays an irreplaceable role today. Because the pen is the first in Four Treasures of the Study, there are many nicknames and jokes. The earliest book is The Book of Songs: "A quiet girl is a good girl, so I am the master." The pen here is called "tube" Cao Zhi called the pen "inch cold", and his novel "Walking in Dew" said: "I am one inch taller and flowers are flowing." Zuo Si called the pen "soft and sincere", such as the poem "Ode to History": "A weak crown is different from soft and sincere, and reading a group of books is outstanding." Han Yu even made a biography of knighthood. His anthropomorphic fable "Biography of Mao Ying" said: "Mao Ying is also a Zhongshan native. He sealed Guancheng, nicknamed Guanchengzi, and hated worshipping the Chinese calligraphy order. He called him Zhongshujun, and made friends with Jiang people Chen Xuan, Hongnong Hong Tao and Mr. Hui." After the publication of this biography, Guan, Zhong Shuling and Zhong Shujun became pen-end nicknames; Mr. Hsuanchan, Mr. Wang and Mr. Jun became the aliases of ink, inkstone and paper. Bai Juyi called the pen a "millicone", so the poem "Send Micro" said: "The eyes are like thorns, and the front is like a cone." Lu You called the pen a "hair cone", and his poem "Drunken Weng" said: "Post a book to report Khan urgently, and it will shock you to send a cone." In addition, there are many posthumous title, such as Xu Longyou, Cao Mo Dutong and Mizhou Secretariat.

The second time, say ink. Three thousand years ago, ink came into being, comparable to pens. For example, "Zhuangzi Tian Zifang" said: "Song Hui painted pictures, and all the history came, and stood by and watched the bow, licking the pen and ink, and the outside was half." The Four Books of the Study in the Song Dynasty quoted the biography of Song Zi Hou Yuanguang in the Tang Dynasty, saying, "Yi Yuanguang, a Yan man, was originally named Qingsongzi, and he was quite talented." Yishui is rich in famous ink, so the name of ink is Yi, and the ink color is black and bright, hence the name "Yuanguang". Ink-made pine smoke, so it is called "Qingsongzi". In this way, "Yuanguang", "Qingsongzi" and "Songzihou" became the posthumous title or posthumous title of ink. The ink is black and looks like laurel, so it is also called "Xuangui". For example, Yang Wanli's poem "Chun Xing" said: "If you want to quickly grind Xuangui matte paper, you must float the inkstone and shake the flowers." In addition, there are posthumous title, such as Wu Jin, Zugui, Long Bin, Long Xiang, Messenger of Black Pine, Defending Pine Smoke, and Hanging Fragrance, from the Miscellanies of Yun Ge in the Tang Dynasty: "Xue Ji sealed Nine Tin as Mo and worshipped Pine Smoke.

First of all, the application of paper was later than pen and ink, which existed in the Eastern Han Dynasty. "Learning Paper Spectrum Four Spectrum" quoted the Song Dynasty's "Biography of Good Hou", saying: "The white of the Han Dynasty, Xuan Yan, Huayin people, often served Cai Lun to visit Leiyang, offer the son of heaven and seal the Hou." Skin white can be used to make paper, so it is called "Zhibai", also known as "Mr. Jun", which is abbreviated as "Sheng Jun". Paper is also called "cloud fat" and "cloud blue", such as Mi Fei's poem "Seeing Xue Langzhong off": "Like a tube, the axis reflects Ruijin, Yulin is covered with cloud fat". Yuan Mei's Poems with the Garden Volume 6: "I don't know how many heroic tears are in my chest, and I don't know how many blue papers have been spilled."

Say inkstone later. Inkstone came into being in the Spring and Autumn Period, which has a longer history than paper. "Four Pictures of the Study" quoted the biography of Jimo Hou in Song Dynasty: "Stone is empty, the word is silent, and South Vietnam was named Jimo Hou because of its meritorious service." So "stone in vain", "giant ink" and "after Jimo" became the nicknames of inkstone. Inkstone is also called "You Shi" and "Shi Hong". For example, Wang Yan's poem titled Tong Shouqing Boya Hall says: "Life is judged by the flow, and stone friends are ordered." Huang Tingjian's poem "Cross Bamboo Painted by Old Huang Bin": "Clear the window and shadow the falling stone, loose coal and lightly dye the frosty rabbit." Su Shi called inkstone "black and white moon", and his "Rowen Shiyue inkstone inscription" said: "The fog hub is long, and Wan Wan is black and white moon." The inkstone is shaped like the moon and is divided into two parts: grinding ink and holding water. The former is black and the latter is white, so it's called this.