Different types of brush pens have different characteristics, so the way they should be opened differs. Sheep-hair (yanghao) and chicken-feather (jihao) brushes can be fully opened. Mixed-hair (jianhao) and purple-hair (zihao) brushes should be opened to about one-third. Weasel-hair (langhao) brushes can be half-opened or fully opened.
The Four Virtues of a Brush
A good brush has four qualities: Pointed, Even, Round, and Resilient (Jian, Qi, Yuan, Jian).
Pointed (Jian)
When the bristles are gathered, the tip should be sharp. A pointed tip produces crisp strokes and conveys spirit. Writers often modestly refer to their own brush as a worn-out one, but a brush without a point is truly blunt and loses all vitality. When buying a new brush, the bristles are held together by glue, making it easy to inspect. For an old brush, wet it first so the bristles gather, and you can then judge the point.
Even (Qi)
When the tip is moistened and pressed flat, the bristle tips should be even. If the bristles are even, they are all the same length when pressed flat, with no gaps, allowing the brush to exert even force across all hairs. Because this requires fully moistening the brush, it is harder to check when buying a new one.
Round (Yuan)
The brush should be full and round like a jujube pit, meaning it has ample bristles. Full bristles deliver full brush strength; sparse bristles result in weak strokes. A well-rounded tip moves smoothly in all directions. When buying, with the glue holding the bristles, a close look will tell you whether it is round and full.
Resilient (Jian)
This refers to the springiness of the brush waist. When pressed down firmly and released, the bristles should spring back to their original shape. A springy brush moves freely. Generally, rabbit-hair and weasel-hair brushes are springier than sheep-hair, producing firmer, more upright strokes. To test, moisten the brush, press it down firmly, then lift — if the tip returns straight, it is resilient.
The Four Virtues describe the brush's inherent qualities, but when choosing a brush you should also consider the calligraphy model you are copying. As the saying goes: use the brush that a particular master used to write his kind of characters. The best way to judge what kind of brush was used is to look at the writing itself: firm, vigorous style calls for a resilient brush; graceful, full-bodied style calls for a soft brush; if neither dominates, use a mixed-hair brush. The brush's character also influences the resulting calligraphy — only with the right match can one reach the subtle heights of the art.
Another consideration is character size: use a large brush for large characters and a small brush for small ones. Writing large characters with a small brush damages the brush and restricts movement; writing small characters with a large brush is overkill.
How to Open a New Brush
To make a brush durable, proper use and care are essential beyond its inherent quality. To start using a new brush, soak it in warm water — but not too long. Stop as soon as the tip is fully opened; do not let the glue at the root dissolve, otherwise the bristles will fall out and the brush will shed. Purple-hair brushes are stiffer and may need a longer soak.
Moistening the Brush
Moistening is essential before writing — never dip a dry brush directly into ink. Wet the bristles with clean water and lift immediately; do not soak, lest the root glue dissolve. Then hang the brush upside down until the tip regains its springiness — about ten minutes. Brushes must be stored dry. Writing without moistening first makes bristles brittle and prone to breaking under pressure.
Loading Ink
To ensure even ink absorption, first blot out the water by gently dragging the brush across absorbent paper until it is dry. Dry here does not mean bone-dry — just remove enough water to make room for the ink. The brush should be dipped only about one-third into the ink; too little ink makes writing dry and stiff, too much makes the brush waist swell and lose strength — neither is good.
Cleaning After Use
Wash the brush immediately after writing. Ink contains gum; if not washed away, the dried bristles will be firmly glued together and hard to reopen for the next use, and are easily broken.
After washing, blot out excess water and smooth the bristles (same as before loading ink). Hang the brush on a brush rack so remaining water can drip away until fully dry. Dry in a cool, shaded place to preserve the bristles' shape and character — never expose to direct sunlight. The key to brush preservation is keeping it dry.