Chinese Writing Brush 毛笔

More than 2，000 years ago， a general returned from hunting was inspired by the tail of a rabbit. He cut off the tail and stuck it into a bamboo drain， making the first writing brush. The pen holder is made of bamboo or bone. The nib is made of hairs from sheep， rabbits or wolves.

Unlike other writing tools， it is difficult to write with a soft nib. Writing hànzì with soft máob? represents oriental philosophy. It is regarded as a method to cultivate the mind and nature， and widely used among scholars.

Chinese Writing Brush

2000多年前，一位狩獵归来的将军受到兔子尾巴的启发，他把兔尾剪下插入竹管，从此，第一支毛笔诞生了。毛笔的笔杆是用竹子或兽骨制作的，笔头是用羊、兔或狼的毛制作的。

毛笔不同于其他的书写工具，它的笔头很软，这为书写增加了难度。用柔软的毛笔写方正的汉字体现了东方的哲学精神。许多中国文人通过写毛笔字来修身养性。

毛笔的诞生让写字成为一门艺术，即书法。毛笔像一位朋友陪伴在中国文人的身边，记录和见证着他们的学识与品格。

Wr i t i n g became an a r t c a l l e d calligraphy with the birth of máob?. Máo b? is a friend of Chinese scholars， making records of their knowledge and character.

Word Bank

general n. 将军

stick v. （过去式stuck）将……刺入；插入

represent v. 体现；展示

calligraphy n. 书法；书法艺术