Ink brush
![A highly decorative badger hair brush dating back to the Wanli reign of Ming Dynasty, featuring dragons inlaid with gold and silver foil.](/Images/godic/202501/02/CMOC_Treasures_of_Ancient_China_exhibit_-_calligraphy_brush_with_dragon_design1817.jpg")
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![Brushes of various sizes and types of hair, including a chicken feather one at the top](/Images/godic/202501/02/Pinceaux_chinois1817.jpg")
Ink brushes (simplified Chinese:毛笔; traditional Chinese:毛筆; pinyin:máo bǐ) are used in Chinese calligraphy. They are also used in Chinese painting and descendant brush painting styles. The ink brush was invented in China, believed to be around 300 B.C. Together with the inkstone, inkstick and Xuan paper, these four writing implements form the Four Treasures of the Study.