文房四寶,是中國書畫的主要工具和材料,它們是筆、墨、紙、硯,人們通常稱它們?yōu)?quot;文房四寶",是說它們是文人書房中最珍惜最常用的四件寶貝。中國古代文人基本上都能書善畫,是離不開筆墨紙硯這四件寶貝的。"文房"之名,起于我國歷史上的南北朝時期,專指文人書房而言,以筆、墨、紙、硯為文房最常用。文房用具除四寶以外,還有筆筒、筆架、墨盒、筆洗、印泥、印章、印盒等等,也都是書房中的必備之品。
The Four Treasures of Chinese Study, i.e.: brush, ink, paper and ink stone, are unique tools of Chinese painting and calligraphy. People refer them as "four treasures" probably because they are the four most cherished and very often used items in the study of Chinese scholars. Ancient Chinese scholars were basically all good at calligraphy and painting and that is why the tools were inseparable to them. The word "Chinese Study" first originated from the Northern and Southern Dynasties, which specifically meant to refer to a scholar study where the four tools were the most often used items. In addition to these four major items, other necessary tools for the Chinese study also include the brush barrel, brush holder, ink case, brush wash, inkpad, stamps, seal boxes and so on.