Calligraphy Brush " FUDE "- An image-inscribing magic tool
According to the popular theory, calligraphy brush was first invented in China by
Mien Tian ( ? - 210 BC), a Qin general under the First Emperor. In the light of
anthropology, however, it has much longer history - studies have revealed that a
form of brush - a proto-type of modern brush - first appeared sometime between
500 and 1500 BC., also in China. Plant roots and fibers are believed to have been
used before the invention of brushes made of animal hair.
TECHNIQUES & MATERIALS Essences of a Superior Brush
There are different types of brushes such as calligraphy brushes, paint brushes,
designer's brushes, sumi-e (Japanese painting) brushes, etc. Only fine, flexible hair
that retains the color, texture and other unique characteristics of each donor animal
is qualified for brush-making (Note: No animal is ever killed, injured or abused in
making brushes - only the hair is used.). In addition to the hair of animals such as
sheep, raccoons, rabbits, cats and horses, there are several types of special brushes
made from bamboo and chicken feather. Each animal hair, depending on where it grows,
when it was sheared and where the animal originally came from, has its own distinctive
characteristics including resiliency. Brushes made in Japan often use a blend of
different animal hair - sometimes up to 10 kinds - to produce certain characteristics.
This is the result of wisdom nurtured over many centuries by generations of Japanese
artisans whose natural environment yields only a limited species of animals suited for brush-making.
HAIR SELECTION & CRAFTSMANSHIP - Promising a High Quality
The value of each brush is determined by the quality of materials used and manufacturing
techniques employed. Brushes made from different types of hair blended with varying ratio
are sorted into 3 groups - hard, soft and medium - based on the hardness of the hair.
They are farther divided into three categories - short, medium and long - based on the length
of the hair. The term "go" is used to classify each brush according to the thickness of
the hair. A brush with its hair hardened by glue is called katame-fude, while the one with
more conventional tip is called sabaki-fude. A typical brush consists of two main components,
"Tip" and "Stem". The tip is normally made from the hair of animals such as horses, deer,
sheep, raccoons, weasels, cats and rabbits. The stem is made from various types of bamboo and
trees (cherry, hard maple, keyaki, ebony, and rosewood).
RESILIENCY - Beauty of Calligraphy Brushes
The varying resiliency level of the different animal hair provides calligraphers with
infinite possibilities to write each character and express its meaning. And because animal
hair absorbs ink, or sumi, with such efficiency that it allows the right amount of ink to
be discharged onto paper regardless of the speed and the pressure with which calligrapher writes.
FUDE KUYO
Fude Kuyo, which literally means a "memorial service for brushes," is the main event of
Fude Matsuri (Brush Festival). Its purpose is to show appreciation for various kinds of
animals that provide hair to make brushes, as well as to settle the souls of brushes whose
life span has come to an end. It also serves as a fervent prayer by calligraphers to achieve
the highest standard in their art. Every year, a countless number of brushes, both new and old,
are brought to the designated shrines across Japan to be offered to the " Purification Bonfire."
PAINTING TYPES & BRUSHES
| TYPE | BRUSHES TO USE |
| For watercolors: | Brushes made from the hair of horses, squirrels, raccoons, weasels, etc. |
| For oil painting: | Brushes made from the hair of horses, raccoons, cows, etc. |
| For Japanese painting: | Brushes made from the hair of cats and sheep. |
A VARIETY OF BRUSHES
HIRA-FUDE (Flat Brush)
With its wide, large brush surface, hira-fude is particularly effective when creating
a large work. A realistic expression with sharp lines can be achieved by adjusting the
angle with which a brush touches the paper.
MARU-FUDE (Round Brush)
The most significant characteristic of maru-fude is its versatility. It can be used as
hira-fude by flattening the brush. It can also be used to draw fine lines with its tip.
It is reasonable to say that, with a standard #3 maru-fude, its users have a multitude
of possibilities to express themselves.
SUGAR BRUSH
Made of the hair of silver fox, sugar brush, with characteristics of both hira-fude
and maru-fude, is perfect for "soft" expressions.
DEER FOOT BRUSH
As the name suggests, its shape resembles a deer foot. Used for shading, it is suited to
express sandy textures such as fruit skin and animal noses.
OHGI FUDE (Fan-Shaped Brush)
Used to draw heaving lines such as hair and ocean waves.
DETAIL LINER
A brush with a thin, long tip made of cat's hair. Soft and flexible, it is ideal for creating thin, long lines such as ivy.
NAGINATA FUDE (Partisan Brush)
A full, voluminous brush particularly effective in drawing lines along the plate hem quickly and cleanly.
KANADAMI BRUSH
Absorbs ink well in the same way as sugar brush.
TAIMOU FUDE
Commonly called the "baby brush," taimou fude, which literally means the "fetal hair brush," is made of down,
and is kept as a birthday memento. In Japan, one can bring the baby’s hair to calligraphy shops
and barbershops that often act as a "middleman" between brush makers and prospective clients who
wish to have a taimou fude made. The hair used for taimou fude must be the baby’s very first set
of hair that's never been cut or trimmed since the time of birth. This is important because brushes
made from previously clipped hair are not exactly on a par with the ones made of fetal hair in both
quality and form, two essential conditions sought by those who use them.
TAIMOU – Gift of God
During the fifth month of pregnancy, fetus develops fat tissues and acquires subcutaneous fat.
At this point, taimou, or "fetal hair," starts growing to cover the fetus' entire body.
The hair protects the fetus in amniotic fluid by maintaining the body temperature at a certain level.
Thus brushes made of taimou becomes the lucky charm that wards off evils of life. Taimou fude, made of
hair that only grows once to protect a human life during its earliest stages, is truly a God's gift.
The hair of a 6 month to 1 year-old baby makes the best brushes.