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Bijing 筆經 is a concise text on the production of brushes attributed to the renowned calligrapher Wang Xizhi 王羲之 (303-361). However, since it is not listed in any historical bibliography, it is probable that Wang was not the true author.
The text appears in the series Shuofu 說郛 and Wuchao xiaoshuo daguan 五朝小說大觀.
| 漢時，諸郡獻兔毫，出鴻都。惟有趙國毫中用。時人咸言：兔毫無優劣，管手有巧拙。 | In Han times, the various commanderies offered up rabbit-hair brushes, produced in Hongdu. Only those from the region of Zhao were truly useful. At the time, people commonly said: "There's no real superiority or inferiority in rabbit hair itself. What matters is whether the one wielding the brush is skillful or clumsy." |
| 昔人或以琉璃、象牙為筆管，麗飾則有之，然筆須輕便，重則躓矣。 | In former times, some people used glass or ivory to make brush handles. Such ornate decoration was indeed present. However, a brush must be light and convenient; if it is too heavy, it hinders movement. |
| 諸郡毫惟中山兔肥而毫長，可用。先用人髮秒數十莖，雜青羊毛並兔羲，裁令齊平，以麻紙裹枝根令淨。次取上毫薄薄布柱上，令柱不見。 | Among all the rabbit hairs from the commanderies, only those from Zhongshan rabbits, being plump and having long hairs, were suitable for use. First, they would take several dozen fine strands of human hair, mix them with blue (or greenish) goat hair and rabbit neck hair, trim them to an even length, and wrap the root of the bundle with hemp paper to keep it clean and firm. Next, the finest hairs are selected and laid in a thin layer over the brush core, so that the core is entirely hidden. |
| 制筆之法：桀者居前，毳者居後，強者為刃，要者為輔，參之以苘，束之以管，固以漆液，澤以海藻。濡墨而試，直中繩，勾中鉤，方圓中規矩，終日握而不敗。 | As for the method of making a brush, place the stiffest hairs at the front, the softer, downy hairs at the back; the firm hairs become the cutting edge, and the supporting hairs serve as reinforcement. Mix in hemp fibers, bind it with a shaft, secure it with lacquer, and moisten it with seaweed extract. When dipped in ink and tested, it draws straight lines that follow the rule, hooks match the proper curve, squares and circles conform to compass and square. Even after gripping it all day, it does not fail. |