It was said that these brushes were actually made out of wolf hair (狼毛) in the past, instead of weasel hair (黃鼠狼毛).]]>
Goat hair brushes were said to origin from the Northern and Southern Dynasties and were made out of a goat's tail or chin hair. Goat hair brushes were not properly used until the Southern Song Dynasty, and were not popularised until the Qing Dynasty. This is because ancient calligraphers preferred a strong and powerful stroke, while brushes made out of goat hair were too soft to achieve this. It wasn't until the Qing Dynasty where people valued more rounded and subtle styles did the goat hair brush come into wide use.]]>