Calligraphy Brushes Kyoto. In japanese this four elements are called bunbōshihō which translation would be the. The brushes are fully made of kolinsky weasel hair from harbin in northern china.
The name kumano brush was originally used only for calligraphy but in 2004 the trademark kumano brush was registered and nowadays kumano brush is the common name for calligraphy and make up brushes that are produced in kumano cho. While in kyoto i paid a visit to the shop of saiundo fujimoto very well known for hand made watercolors and special materials for japanese style painting this is a lovely little shop crammed with special brushes paper and. Among the more exotic materials used for brushes are hairs from cats monkeys ermine and lions.
Hair from such exotic animals as japanese and chinese raccoons japanese and chinese weasels chinese sheep horses and vietnamese deer are used.
Kumano brush is a common name for brushes that are produced in aki county hiroshima prefecture. Thanks to the moderate firmness of the hair the writing quality is especially neat. Today less than twenty craftspeople living and working in or around kyoto make brushes full time. These medium brushes are ideal for writing from six to 12 characters per half page and also for writing kana as they produce thin and neat lines.
