Chinese Fans
Synopsis
Chinese fans have a history of over three thousand years, evolving from ancient ceremonial objects to symbols of status among scholars and literati. Fans incorporate various art forms such as calligraphy, painting, embroidery, and carving. Folding fans, round fans, and feather fans each possess unique characteristics, with Suzhou, Hangzhou, and Sichuan being the three renowned production regions. Fan culture is a refined microcosm of Eastern aesthetics.
Overview
Chinese fans boast a history of over three thousand years, representing a unique artifact in traditional Chinese culture that combines practicality with artistry. Fans first appeared during the Shang Dynasty, initially serving as ceremonial items for emperors during their tours. Over millennia of development, fans evolved from simple cooling tools into comprehensive art forms integrating calligraphy, painting, embroidery, carving, and other artistic techniques. In Chinese culture, fans are not only practical everyday items but also important carriers for literati and scholars to express their identity, taste, and emotions.
The variety of Chinese fans is extremely rich, with folding fans and round fans being the two most representative categories. The folding fan opens into a semicircle and folds into a slender rod, making it easy to carry and a standard accessory for scholars and artists. The round fan, circular like a full moon, was mostly used by women, symbolizing reunion and happiness.
Types of Fans
| Type | Shape | Material | Characteristics |
|---|---|---|---|
| Folding Fan | Opens into a semicircle | Bamboo frame, paper surface | Essential for literati, can be inscribed with poems or paintings |
| Round Fan | Circular or oval | Bamboo frame, silk surface | Used by women, often painted with flowers, birds, or ladies |
| Feather Fan | Fan surface made of feathers | Goose feathers, eagle feathers | Symbol of Zhuge Liang, representing scholarly elegance |
| Palm Leaf Fan | Fan surface made of palm leaves | Palm leaves | Used daily by common people |
| Wheat Straw Fan | Fan surface woven from wheat straw | Wheat straw | Rustic charm, simple and natural, characteristic of rural areas |
| Black Paper Fan | Black fan surface | Mulberry bark paper, bamboo frame | Specialty of Hangzhou, allows painting on both sides |
Three Famous Fans
The Sandalwood Fan from Suzhou, the Black Paper Fan from Hangzhou, and the Gong Fan from Zigong, Sichuan, are collectively known as China's three famous fans.
The Suzhou Sandalwood Fan is made from precious sandalwood, with exquisitely carved surfaces that emit a faint sandalwood fragrance when waved. Creating a fine sandalwood fan requires dozens of processes, including sawing, planing, baking, pulling, carving, and engraving. The openwork patterns on the fan surface are as fine as silk, making it a masterpiece of wood carving craftsmanship.
The Hangzhou Black Paper Fan is a national-level intangible cultural heritage. Its surface is made from mulberry bark paper, treated with persimmon lacquer and other special processes to achieve a deep brown or black color. Its most notable feature is that both sides of the fan can be painted. Gold, silver, or colored paintings stand out strikingly against the black background. A high-quality black paper fan is durable and retains its beauty over time.
The Zigong Gong Fan is a unique bamboo silk fan from Sichuan, woven from extremely fine bamboo filaments. The weaving technique was created by Gong Juewu during the Guangxu era of the Qing Dynasty, involving splitting bamboo into hair-thin filaments to weave intricate patterns. A single Gong Fan requires tens of thousands of bamboo filaments and takes several months to complete.
Literati and Fans
Fans hold a special place in Chinese literati culture. The folding fan is hailed as an elegant object carried in the sleeve; a scholar would never go out without one, much like a sword for a warrior. The surface of a folding fan is the perfect canvas for literati to showcase their calligraphy and painting skills—inscribing poems or painting on a palm-sized surface tests skill and displays taste.
Many famous calligraphers and painters throughout history have left precious fan surface artworks. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, fan surface painting and calligraphy became an independent art genre. Masters like Wen Zhengming, Tang Yin, and Zheng Banqiao have left numerous fan surfaces that are now highly valuable in auction markets.
Fans are also indispensable props in traditional Chinese opera performances. In Peking Opera, the folding fan in the hand of a scholarly male character (Wensheng) exudes elegance and charm with every open and close. The round fan held by a female role (Huadan) adds a touch of grace and allure when she hides her smile behind it. In Sichuan Opera's face-changing (Bian Lian), the fan is used as a cover to change facial masks in an instant, a world-renowned feat.
References
- Baidu Baike: https://baike.baidu.com/item/中国扇子
- Wikipedia: https://zh.wikipedia.org/zh-cn/扇子
- China Intangible Cultural Heritage Network: https://www.ihchina.cn
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