4-1. Type of Japanese Calligraphy Brushes1,Materials
Calligraphy brush is a tool for writing letters which a hank of hair (string,fiber) is attached at the tip of the bamboo-Cylinder like shaft.
Materials of hair brush
Plants(string,fibe):Few are made of bamboo straw and wood.
Hair of animals:Most of the brushes are made of animal hair or feather.
Artificial fiber: Only used for cheap brushes.
There are a brush only using one material,and a brush mixed several materials(Kengohitsu).Taste of writing varies by the combination of hair materials.The more woolen hair,the softer the writing taste becomes.The more horsehair,the more powerful the taste becomes.
Sorted by plants
Plants(string,fibe):Few are made of bamboo straw and wood.
| straw | bamboo |
|---|---|
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Hair of animals:Most of the brushes are made of animal hair or feather.
Artificial fiber: Only used for cheap brushes.
There are a brush only using one material,and a brush mixed several materials(Kengohitsu).Taste of writing varies by the combination of hair materials.
The more woolen hair,the softer the writing taste becomes.The more horsehair,the more powerful the taste becomes.
Sorted by animal hairs
| Goat | This hair is easy to absorb ink (sumi), and good for expressing flexible and unconstrained brush strokes. |
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|---|---|---|
| Horse | It can be made from one type of horsehair. For proper elasticity of the hair, it is used for the tip of a writing brush (Chikara-hair). There are Reddish brown, White, Black in colors. |
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| weasel family Mink (mustelid) |
The hair is mainly used for slender brushes because hair is short. |
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| Cattamage | Back hair of cat.It is used for brush for Hiragana. |
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| Raccoon dog | The tip of a writing brush becomes strong. |
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| Martes | Elastic.Each hair is very fine.Ink can be kept very well in brush and it is suitable for writing fine lines. |
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| whiskers of rat | Brush hair is hard and strait from its base to the top.It is possible to write very fine and beautiful lines. |
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| fowl | It lacks firmness and is not recommendable for beginners.However,it can unexpectedly creates marvelous expressions if it’s used with skill. |
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| Pheasant | Firm and elastic.It is possible to write strong sharp lines. |
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| horse（samba) | strongest hair of deer |
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| White swan | Hairs are very fine and tender. Lines drawn can be gentle. |
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| Peacock | It is difficult arrange the hair top.If skillfully used,very interesting lines can be drawn. |
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| Mixture of raccoon dog and horse. | Very elastic and lines are powerful. |
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| Mixture of raccoon dog and horse and Goat | Recommendable for beginners because it combines good characteristics of three. |
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| Baby’s hair | Baby’s hair which was cut first after one’s birth. |
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