Traditional Chinese Elegant Fans

Author: Pan Jialai
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2005-12-01
Features: From theblock stone piece, human civilization has been advancing step by step through the continuous labor of human hands, presenting the colorful scene we see today. In the three hundred years since industrialization, we have entrusted too much work to machines. However, the production of machines is ultimately too rigid and uniform. When surrounded by the products of these assembly lines, we suddenly realize that life has become lacking in spirit, beauty, and classical charm. As a result, more and more people are beginning to search for the utensils made and used by their ancestors with their hands. Porcelain fragments, jade pendants, silver hairpins, wooden objects; a carved block, a purple clay teapot; even a brick or a tile—they all underwent the careful craftsmanship of our ancestors, retaining their warmth and engraved with our national totems. Occasionally discovered, they are cherished like treasures, and great joy and solace are obtained in the process of searching and handling them. Traditional handicrafts are an important part of China's excellent cultural heritage. Chinese jade, silk, lacquerware, porcelain, and Ming and Qing furniture are among the finest handicrafts in the world, achieving extremely high levels in terms of craftsmanship and artistic aesthetics. However, in the long-term Confucian culture that emphasized principles over tools, the making of objects was always regarded as a minor and unrefined skill. In the official records and histories of the dynasties, the achievements and contributions of artisans are rarely recorded, and when they are, it is only in a few brief sentences or not mentioned at all. The only relatively detailed historical records available for reference are the Rites of Zhou·Winter Officer’s Examination of Craftsmanship and the Treatise on the Mysterious Arts of Nature. Compiling this Series of Books on Traditional Chinese Handicraft Culture is to take readers back to the countryside, visit handicraft workshops, meet artisans and collectors, and listen to the legendary stories behind them. This book provides a detailed introduction to the origins, craftsmanship, and anecdotes of scholars and literati of past dynasties with fans, while also including a large number of famous poems and writings related to fans. Reading it leaves one feeling refreshed and invigorated.