The brush is the most vital tool in calligraphy, and its feel and expressive potential are largely determined by the hair it uses. Hair type directly affects the brush’s softness, resilience, ink absorption, and durability—key factors in overall performance.
In this article, we’ll explore the main types of animal hair traditionally used in calligraphy brushes, along with their unique features.
Hair Selection: The Soul of the Brush
Traditionally, a good brush must possess the “Four Virtues” (Shitoku):
- En (roundness): A rounded tip shape
- Sei (uniformity): Evenly aligned hairs
- Ei (sharpness): A fine, sharp tip
- Ken (strength): A firm and resilient core
Since the quality of the hair affects all four of these virtues, hair selection is considered the most crucial part of brush making.
Commonly Used Animal Hairs and Their Characteristics
Goat Hair (羊毛 or 山羊毛)
- Features: Soft texture with excellent ink retention. Highly durable and long-lasting.
- Best for: Running Style, Cursive Style, and large-format works where flowing brushstrokes are essential.
- Notes: High-end brushes often use “Saikōhō” — the fine hair from the back of the goat’s neck. Goat hair is among the few materials that can fulfill all four brush virtues on its own.
Rabbit Hair (Shigō, 紫毫)
- Features: Sharp tip with excellent spring and snap, resulting in taut, precise lines.
- Best for: Kana (Japanese cursive syllabary), small brushes, sutra copying, and fine lettering. Ideal when a crisp line is desired.
- Notes: “Shigō” comes from the back hair of wild Chinese rabbits and is extremely rare. It’s a prized material for fine brushes and often used in blends like “Go-shi Go-yō” (5 rabbit:5 goat) or “Shichi-shi San-yō” (7 rabbit:3 goat).
Raccoon Dog Hair (狸毛)
- Features: Unique tapering shape—soft at the base, thicker toward the tip. Offers strong firmness and elasticity.
- Best for: Large brushes, Square Style, and Running Style. Can withstand strong pressure.
- Notes: Categorized into over ten types such as “Shiroichi,” “Shiro-ni,” and “Kuro-o” based on origin and body part. Japanese white raccoon hair is especially valued.
Deer Hair (鹿毛)
- Features: Excellent water absorption, resilient, and firm but slightly less durable.
- Best for: Often used as a reinforcing material in the core or base of brushes.
- Notes: Hair from the belly, called “Shirama” or “Mahashiri,” has long been valued as a base material for large brushes.
Weasel Hair (鼬毛)
- Features: Short, elastic, and responsive tip control.
- Best for: Fine detail brushes, ultra-fine brushes, and small calligraphy brushes. Common in high-end detail brushes in Japan.
- Notes: Though it wears down quickly, it’s ideal for expressing delicate lines.
Horse Hair (馬毛)
- Features: Coarse and stiff; classified as hard hair.
- Best for: Brush cores, large brushes, practice brushes, and general-purpose brushes.
- Notes: Hair from the body, tail, and mane have different properties. Long strands are easy to source and suitable for mass production.
The Wisdom of Blended Hair Brushes (Kengō Brushes)
In addition to pure hair brushes made from a single animal, many brushes are blended hair brushes (Kengō) that combine different hair types to balance contrasting characteristics.
| Name | Blend Ratio | Features |
| Go-shi Go-yō | Rabbit 5 : Goat 5 | Balanced between sharpness and ink absorption |
| Shichi-shi San-yō | Rabbit 7 : Goat 3 | Designed for fine lettering with an emphasis on precision |
| Tanuki-Yō Kengō | Raccoon + Goat | Balances firmness and ink retention |
| Itachi-Yō Kengō | Weasel + Goat | Combines line sharpness and flexibility |
These blends harmonize softness (ink absorption, pliability) with rigidity (snap, resilience), allowing for a versatile brush suited to various writing styles.
Other Rare and Unique Hair Types
There are a wide variety of lesser-known brush materials:
- Cat Hair (Gyokumō): Contains more underfur, with excellent stickiness and spring. Ideal for detail brushes.
- Civet Hair: Strong elasticity even in small quantities. Used as a core material mixed with other hairs.
- Fox, Monkey, and Bear Hair: Used for small brushes or novelty applications.
- Bird Feathers and Plant Fibers: Employed in decorative or craft-specific brushes.
Conclusion: Understanding Hair Deepens Your Brush Knowledge
It’s no exaggeration to say that a brush’s quality begins—and ends—with the hair. Every essential characteristic—softness, firmness, ink capacity, tip cohesion, and durability—stems from the properties of the hair.
Choosing the right type of hair based on writing style and purpose allows the calligrapher to fully express their intent and sensitivity. When you understand the brush’s materials, you gain a deeper appreciation for the art of calligraphy itself.
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