Why is a fountain pen called 万年筆?


I am curious about the etymological history of 万年筆{まんねんひつ}, whose actual
meaning is a fountain pen in Japanese.

If we separate the kanjis we have :

> 万{マン}: ten thousand
>
> 年{ネン}: years
>
> 筆{ヒツ}: brush

So, literally it means _a ten thousand years brush_ , isn't it ?

Why is it called that way ? Is it because this item made its appearance at
some point in History ten thousand years after another event ?




百, 千, and 万(萬) all have 'many' as part of their definitions. Going in order of
lower number to higher number signifies a higher quantity. These numbers are
often used figuratively, such as 万歳{ばんざい}（萬歳）signifying 'long life', while
literally meaning 10,000 years (of age). 万 is often used in the figurative
sense to convey something similar to permanence or eternity, though not quite
in the literal sense.

[百](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E7%99%BE) very many; lots. Advanced age.  
[千](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%8D%83) many; numerous; very.  
[万](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E4%B8%87) myriad; many; all; a large
number; everything

In the case of the naming of 万年筆, one would assume that it was mostly a
marketing device, giving the impression to the buyer that it would last
indefinitely.




百, 千, and 万(萬) all have 'many' as part of their definitions. Going in order of
lower number to higher number signifies a higher quantity. These numbers are
often used figuratively, such as 万歳{ばんざい}（萬歳）signifying 'long life', while
literally meaning 10,000 years (of age). 万 is often used in the figurative
sense to convey something similar to permanence or eternity, though not quite
in the literal sense.

[百](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E7%99%BE) very many; lots. Advanced age.  
[千](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E5%8D%83) many; numerous; very.  
[万](https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/%E4%B8%87) myriad; many; all; a large
number; everything

In the case of the naming of 万年筆, one would assume that it was mostly a
marketing device, giving the impression to the buyer that it would last
indefinitely.

