Calligraphy is an important form of Chinese art. And brush, ink, paper and ink slab are four important tools for Chinese calligraphy, collectively known as the Four Treasures of Chinese Study.
书法是中国艺术的一种重要形式。笔、墨、纸、砚是中国书法的四种重要工具，合称为 “文房四宝”。
Brush
笔
Chinese brushes made of animal hair are soft and flexible. One special feature is the point at the tip of the brush. By controlling the pressing or raising of the point, the calligrapher shows a feeling of brush thickness or fineness, of heavy-strength or feather-like weight.
用动物毛发制成的毛笔柔软且富有弹性。其一个特别之处在于笔尖。通过控制笔尖的下压或上提，书法家能表现出笔画的粗细变化以及力度的轻重之感，或如千钧之力，或似羽毛般轻盈。
In ancient times, people used natural ingredients (原料) to make ink. For the purpose of convenience, modern people gradually turned to chemically produced ink for their writing. Although ink grinding (研磨) requires time and patience, this process calms people, allowing them to enter a state of mind suitable for calligraphy.
在古代，人们使用天然原料制作墨。为方便起见，现代人逐渐改用化学方法生产的墨来书写。尽管研墨需要时间和耐心，但这个过程能让人平静下来，使他们进入适合书法创作的心境。
Paper
纸
Paper for the use of calligraphy differs in strength of ink absorption. Thus, the selection of paper is made according to the ideas the calligrapher has to present. Paper produced in Xuan County of Anhui Province is the most famous. Known asxuan paper, it can fully express the elegance (雅致) of ink.
用于书法的纸张在吸墨性强弱方面有所不同。因此，纸张的选择要根据书法家想要呈现的意境来决定。安徽宣纸最为著名，它能够充分展现墨韵的雅致。
Ink slab
砚
An ink slab is a basic thing for ink grinding and writing. Ink slabs appear in many varieties, but ordinary slabs are made by stone-hitting. Ink slabs made from stones of the highest quality can produce ink of the best kind.
砚是研墨和书写的基本用具。砚的种类繁多，但普通的砚是通过击打石头制成的。用最优质的石料制成的砚能磨出最好的墨。
Differences in skills, habits, and tastes of calligraphers bring a difference in details for the same character, even when the same brush, ink, paper and ink slab are used. Such a feature is unique to Chinese calligraphy.
书法家在技巧、习惯和品味上的差异，使得即便使用相同的笔、墨、纸、砚，书写同一个字在细节上也会有所不同。这一特点是中国书法所独有的。
