Pen, ink, paper and inkstone have become the most important writing and painting tools in the study of Song Dynasty, which has been confirmed by archaeological discoveries. For example, Xu Jun's tomb of the Southern Song Dynasty was found in Chayuan Mountain, Fuzhou City, Fujian Province, with a full set of "Four Treasures of the Study" supplies buried with it.

Another example is the mural of Zhang Wenzao's mural tomb of Liao Dynasty in Zhangjiakou, Hebei Province. There is more than one Four Treasures of the Study, which is the earliest painting with pen, ink, paper and inkstone in one place. Among them, in the mural of "Tong Xi Map" in Tomb No.7 (pictured), there are four boys hiding in the cupboard behind them. The digger thinks it is a food box, but some researchers think it should be a learning tool, which can hold papers, scrolls, letters and so on.

The tomb owner of this painting, Zhang Wenzao, died in the tenth year of Xianyong in Liao Dynasty (1074), which is very similar to the life time of Mei and others. All these show that the word "Four Treasures of the Study" wouldn't have become a special term in the Song Dynasty if it hadn't been the accumulation of the times and gradually formed a broad foundation of social practice.

Extended data:

The name of Four Treasures of the Study originated in the Southern and Northern Dynasties. Historically, what "Four Treasures of the Study" refers to has changed frequently. Four Treasures of the Study in Southern Tang Dynasty refers to Zhuge Bi in Xuancheng, Anhui, Li Tinggui Ink in Huizhou, Chengxin Tang Paper in Huizhou, Anhui, and Weilong inkstone in Wuyuan, Anhui.

Since the Song Dynasty, "Four Treasures of the Study" refers to Xu Anbi (Xuancheng, Anhui), Huimo (Shexian, Huizhou, Anhui), Xuanzhi (Jingxian, Xuancheng, Anhui), She Yan (Shexian, Huizhou, Anhui), Yan Tao (Zhuoni, Gansu) and Duanyan (Zhaoqing, Guangdong, formerly known as Duanzhou). After the Yuan Dynasty, Hu Bi (Huzhou, Zhejiang) gradually increased.

People's Network-Anhui Channel >> The 7th Four Treasures of the Study Cultural Tourism Festival >> News Center >> Brief introduction of Four Treasures of the Study.

Baidu Encyclopedia-Four Treasures of the Study (pen and ink)