Fans date back over 3,000 years to the Shang dynasty (1600 to 1046 B.C.) of ancient China. Used for shelter from the elements and cooling, a prop in drama and dance performances as well as a surface for artistic expression, over the centuries the significance of the fan has become entrenched in Chinese history, folk art and crafts.
Development of Fans in China
The first type of fan invented in China was during the Shang dynasty and was used to shelter carriage passengers from sun and rain. It was not until during the Zhou dynasty from 1045 to 256 B.C. that wealthy people began cooling themselves with fans made from feathers. From this point, fans grew in popularity amongst the common people, facilitated by the invention of the bamboo and cattail-leaf fans during the Han dynasty (206 B.C. to A.D. 220) and the silk fan soon after. Many different materials have subsequently been used to make fans, including paper, bone, ivory, lacquerware, leaves and mother-of-pearl.
The Emergence of Fan Painting in China
According to historical records, artist Wang Xizhi is the first person to have painted on a round silk fan during the Eastern Jin Dynasty (A.D. 265 to 420). Archaeologists have unearthed painted fans dating back to the Tang Dynasty (A.D. 618 to 907). There are two different types of fans which have been used for painting in China. Round or oval-shaped silk fans mounted on a rigid frame are the first type used for painting. The second type is the folding fan, which was introduced into China from Japan and Korea during the Ming dynasty (A.D. 1368 to 1644). Folding fans are made from folded paper with bamboo supporting ribs inserted into a frame.
Chinese Fan Painting During the Song and Yuan Dynasties
With the favor of the Emperor, fan painting rapidly grew in popularity during the Song dynasty (A.D. 960 to 1279) and become an art associated with the scholarly classes. Works from this era display a high level of intricacy and craftsmanship, providing some of the finest examples Chinese painting in history. It was in this era that fans developed beyond their practical role as a cooling instrument, becoming works of art in their own right. This development led painted silk fans to become collector's items among the noble classes from the time of the Yuan dynasty (A.D. 1271 to 1368).
Chinese Fan Painting During the Ming and Qing Dynasties
Fans remained a favored material amongst artists during the Ming (A.D. 1368 to 1644) and Qing (A.D. 1644 to 1911) dynasties and this era marks the high-point in Chinese fan painting history. During this time, fan artists beyond the royal court grew in popularity. It also became fashionable during this time to buy fans and ask famous artists and calligraphers to paint or write on them. Renowned works of this era include "The Dingshu Fishing Boat" by Xie Jin, Zhou Zhimian's "Plum Blossoms and a Quail," "Autumn Mountain Scene" by Lu Zhi and Wu Changshuo's "Peach Blossoms."
