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Chinese Embroidery: The Art of Needle and Thread
Chinese embroidery is a time-honored traditional handicraft that uses needles and threads to weave gorgeous patterns on silk, cotton and other fabrics, known as the “art of needle and thread”.
2026-09-12
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Chinese Oil Paper Umbrella: A Poetic Traditional Craft
The oil paper umbrella is a classic traditional folk handicraft in China, integrating practicality, artistry and cultural symbolism, with a history of more than 1,000 years. Originating in the Tang and Song Dynasties, it was once an indispensable daily rainproof tool for ancient Chinese people
2026-09-12
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The Four Treasures of the Study: Soul of Chinese Literati Craft
The Four Treasures of the Study, namely Huzhou ink brushes, Huizhou inksticks, Xuan paper and Duan inkstones, are the most classic and representative handicrafts in Chinese traditional literary and artistic culture. For thousands of years
2026-09-12
The Four Treasures of the Study: Soul of Chinese Literati Craft
The Four Treasures of the Study, namely Huzhou ink brushes, Huizhou inksticks, Xuan paper and Duan inkstones, are the most classic and representative handicrafts in Chinese traditional literary and artistic culture. For thousands of years, they have been essential tools for Chinese calligraphy and painting creation, carrying the aesthetic pursuit and cultural connotation of Chinese literati. All four crafting techniques have been included in China’s first batch of national intangible cultural heritage lists, witnessing the long history of Chinese traditional arts and crafts.
Each of the Four Treasures of the Study has unique craftsmanship and characteristics. Huzhou ink brushes from Zhejiang Province are famous for their soft and elastic brush hairs, neat cutting and smooth ink holding, which can present rich and varied brush strokes in calligraphy and painting. Huizhou inksticks from Anhui Province are made of fine pine smoke, tung oil smoke and precious traditional Chinese medicinal materials, with delicate texture, pure color and durable use, which can produce smooth and thick ink. Xuan paper produced in Jing County, Anhui, is known as the “paper of millennium”, with fine texture, strong water absorption and good toughness, suitable for both calligraphy and traditional Chinese painting, and can be preserved for a long time without decay. Duan inkstones from Guangdong Province have delicate stone texture, moderate hardness and softness, and excellent ink grinding performance, which can make the ink smooth and lustrous.
The craftsmanship of the Four Treasures of the Study has been passed down from generation to generation, adhering to the concept of elaborate polishing and pursuing perfection. Every finished product is condensed with the ingenuity of artisans. Beyond their practical functions, they have become symbols of Chinese traditional literati culture, representing the elegant, modest and rigorous spiritual temperament of Chinese scholars. In modern times, while inheriting traditional craftsmanship, craftsmen constantly optimize materials and processes, making the Four Treasures of the Study adapt to modern calligraphy and painting creation and cultural inheritance, continuing to guard the soul of Chinese traditional literary art.
