苏说文化之文房四宝（英文版）

Four Treasures of Study

文房四宝

In China, calligraphy, which has endured for more than 2,000 years, occupies a distinguished position in the field of traditional art. It is not only a means of communication, but also a means of expressing a person's inner world in an aesthetic sense.

中国书法，已有两千多年的历史，它在中国传统艺术中占有显赫的地位。它不仅用来交流，也是人们表达内心世界的手段，具有很高的审美价值。

Today, although various modern ways have been substituted for the original calligraphy, people still love the ancient form and practice it untiringly. During the traditional festivals, propitious couplets are always indispensable decorations each written in a beautiful style.

今天，虽然各种现代方式已经取代了原来的书法，但人们仍然钟爱者这种古老的艺术形式，而且乐此不疲。在传统节日里，吉祥，美观的书法对联必不可少。

To practice Chinese calligraphy requires the basic tools of 'four treasures of study', namely writing brush, ink stick, paper, and ink slab.

要练习中国书法，必备“文房四宝”，即笔、墨、纸、砚。

The earliest writing brush that has been found is a relic of the Warring States Period. From that time onwards, the brush has evolved into many forms. The nib can be made from rabbit's hair, wool, horsehair, weasel's hair, or bristles, and so on; while the shaft may be made from bamboo, ivory, jade, crystal, gold, silver, porcelain, sandal, ox horn, etc. It is important to see that there can be both soft and hard brushes each producing their own particular styles.

中国最早的毛笔出现在战国时期。随后，经历了数次演变。笔尖可以使用兔毛、羊毛、马鬃、狼毫或猪鬃等；而笔杆可以用竹子、象牙、玉石、水晶、金、银、瓷器、檀木、牛角等。中国毛笔分为软硬两种，写出的字各具风格。

Drizzled with water, a good ink stick should be ground so as to be refined black with luster. With the invention of paper, it was improved accordingly. Since the Han Dynasty, ink sticks have been made from pine soot, using other procedures that include mixing with glue, steaming and molding.

上好的墨加水研磨，写出的字漆黑光亮。随着纸张的发明，墨也相应得到了改进。汉代以来，墨就开始以松烟作为原料，主要工序包括和料、蒸制、成型等。

Paper making is among the 'four great inventions' and one of the great contributions that ancient Chinese people made to the world. Before the existence of paper, our ancestors utilized knots in cords to record events. It was Cai Lun who made the valuable contribution and his research gave rise to paper. Afterwards, many varieties of paper were produced of different quality and usage. The Xuan paper originally made in Anhui Province still shines with its charm today.

造纸术是中国古代四大发明之一，对世界的发展功不可没。在纸出现之前，我们的祖先结绳记事。蔡伦的研究对纸的兴起做出了巨大的贡献。随后，又出现了不同质量、不同用途的纸张。但原产于安徽的宣纸至今仍为纸中上品。

The ink slab is the reputed head of the 'four treasures', for its sobriety and elegance have endured the passage of time. Through ink slabs, people can sample the artistic charm of sculpting and the ink stone's natural tints. Nearly all Chinese calligraphy enthusiasts hold that the star of ink slab is the Duanyan, ink slab produced in Duanzhou of Guangdong Province. It has its base of a purple hue and enjoys the poetic name 'purple clouds'. It was always a tribute to the royal families during the Tang Dynasty.

虽然时光流转，但砚台以其庄重典雅，为人们珍藏“文房四宝”之首选。一枚砚台，人们可以感受其雕刻艺术的魅力和原石的自然色彩。产于广东端州的端砚被中国书法爱好者称为“众砚之首”。紫色的端砚被称为“紫云砚”。在唐代时就为朝廷贡品。

Chinese calligraphy is an ancient art of writing Chinese characters and the unique art of expression created by the Han people. It is known as the speechless poem, the motionless dance, the graph-free painting and soundless music.

中国书法是一门古老的汉字书写艺术，为中华名族特有的艺术形式，被誉为：无言的诗，无行的舞，无图的画，无声的乐。

Chinese calligraphy works carry the Chinese People’s personality, mood, idea, thoughts and soul. Today, as China develops rapidly, people from different countries and different cultures are eager to understand China more than ever. As a result, Chinese calligraphy and “the Four Treasures of Study” have been walking into the lives of people all over the world.

中国书法作品承载着中国人的人格、心境、观念、思想和灵魂。今天，随着中国的快速发展，不同国家和不同文化的人们比以往任何时候更想了解中国。中国书法及“文房四宝”也因此走向了世界。