Tastes of Culture

Like other classic art forms, artistic fans have a long history in China. During the Zhou dynasty over 3,000 years ago, people had already started making fans that had both practical functions and artistic value. When in Beijing, don’t forget to shop for some authentic Chinese fans in the city’s fantastic local shops.

In ancient China, fans were used by people from all walks of life. But in the beginning, fans were only carried by the upper class to symbolize their power and status. Fans made of silk, feathers, paper, wood, fabric, bones, and ivory have been developed to suit different needs. In the Ming dynasty, Chinese fans made their debut in European marketplaces and became an instant hit.

Usually decorated with traditional paintings or calligraphy on both sides, the artistic value of a fan is prized far more than its practical function. A Chinese fan has a very high value if it is made of a precious material, has an beautiful shape, and is decorated with a piece of work done by a famous artist.

Most Chinese fans are divided into two main types: round fans and folding fans. Round fans were invented earlier than folding fans and simply consist of a round, flat surface mounted on a wooden handle. Folding fans were introduced from Japan and became popular in the Ming dynasty. Made of thin pieces that expand and collapse on a pivot, they can be folded when not in use.

The famous “Four Major Fans” of China are sandalwood fans, pyrography fans, bamboo fans, and silk fans. They come from different provinces in China.

Sandalwood fans made in Jiangsu province are known for their deep, mind-refreshing fragrance that can last a long time. After being stored for 10 years, they can still give off a pleasant smell. People like to put one such fan together with their clothes to keep them from being damaged by insects. The beautiful pictures carved on the wood are also very attractive.

Pyrography fans were invented in Guangdong province during the late Qing dynasty. Their designs are made by literally burning the surface of the fan with a special iron. Like other pyrography work, these fans are famous for their unique images that never fade. This special property makes them popular with fan collectors. Most of them have handles that are made of glass.

Bamboo fans come from Sichuan province. They are prized for their charming characteristics like a delicate body, thin surface, and exquisite design. Most of them have a peach-like shape and a handle made of ivory or ox bone. Some people consider them a national treasure of China.

Silk fans are famous for their light body, elegant design, and bright, smooth surface. Most fans produced in ancient China were made of silk. Fan makers in Zhejiang obviously inherited this great tradition.

Fans have played an important role in Chinese culture for centuries. Round fans in particular are a classic Chinese symbol of feminine beauty and grace, because ancient women often used such fans to cover their face when meeting strangers. Nowadays, even though Chinese no longer use different types of fans to show their class rank, they still like to do paintings and write calligraphy on their fans to show their artisitc skills. For thousands of years, this great tradition has remained unchanged.

In Beijing, most of the high-quality Chinese fans can only be found in specialized shops scattered across the city. Finding one such shop takes time, so it’s best to go with a personal shopper to help you find the good stuff. Mass-produced, low-quality fans can be seen everywhere. You can buy one such fan to cool yourself in the summer, but it won’t make a great gift.

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