Master strokes

Gong Guizhi started to learn brush making when she was 7 years old. She has spent more than 50 years with brushes and devoted her life to promoting the traditional writing instrument. [Photo by Li Yansong / for China Daily]

The 58-year-old runs the brush shop Fuxinghe with her husband. She is the fifth generation of the brand and feels grateful that her 29-year-old son has shown interest in carrying on the tradition. [Photo by Li Yansong / for China Daily]

Among the world's writing and painting instruments, the writing brush is unique to China. As far back as the Warring States Period (475-221 BC), brushes were widely used for writing and painting. As the world is increasingly dominated by computer fonts and rapid-fire social networks, the craftsmanship of brushmaking is dying out. Fuxinghe in Qufu is a time-honored brand famous for handmade writing brushes. It was recently been listed among Shandong province's intangible cultural heritages. Gong Guizhi, the fifth generation sustainer of the brand, preserves the tradition and is determined to pass down the art.