As cooling implements, fans bring refreshing breeze to people in summer. In China, however, fans have also possessed artistic charm and unique national characteristics since ancient times.
The earliest fans in China appeared in the Shang and Zhou periods, more than 3000 years ago. There are many kinds of fans in China, such as paper fans, silk fans, palm-leaf fans, feather fans, bamboo fans, and wheat-straw fans.
The shapes of fans may be round, square or in the shape of plum-blossom, crabapple-blossom, or sunflower. Having poems written and paintings done on facings is one of the main characteristics of Chinese fans. Celebrated Chinese calligraphers and artists have been fond of writing and painting on fans since ancient times and have left many masterpieces. With profound cultural accumulation, the art of fans is an important part of traditional Chinese culture. Though each is usually about one chi (equal to 1/3 meter) in length and less than a few ounces in weight, Chinese fans are closely associated with people’s daily life. And they are also unique works of art that combine the art of calligraphy, painting, literature, carving, drama, lacquerware, cutting and pasting, and mosaic.
The most popular fans in China are folding fans. They are handy and convenient to be carried with elegance. Hangzhou is the most famous place for making folding fans. The slats of the folding fans produced in Hangzhou are usually made of precious materials. The well-known black-paper fans, sandalwood fans and ivory fans are among the fine works of Chinese fans.
The Umbrella is one of the most widely used tools in daily life. The earliest appearance of umbrellas in China could be traced back to 4000 years ago. The original purpose for the invention was to protect from rain. When it became popular, the umbrella was also used to ward off strong sunshine. The basic structure of the umbrella has had no fundamental change, but its variety and functions have been increased with the development of the society. The oilcloth umbrella came into being in modern times and was followed by plastic umbrellas and nylon umbrellas. In recent years, anti UV umbrellas and many others have appeared in markets.
The Hangzhou handicraft umbrella that combines practical use and art value is an exotic flower in the garden of Chinese national arts and crafts. The ribs of the umbrella are made of fine bamboo. When it is closed, the exquisite umbrella looks like a piece of bamboo. The canopy of the umbrella is usually made of oilpaper, lace or silk. Umbrellas can be divided into printed umbrellas, painted umbrellas and embroidery umbrellas according to the designs. And each of the designs has its own characteristics.
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