User:Luo Jingyan

Folding Fan: History, Craftsmanship, and Etiquette

Luo Jingyan 202470081611

Abstract

The folding fan, also known as a "folding leaf fan," "whirling fan," or "tight-headed fan," is a collapsible handheld device crafted with bamboo/wood or ivory ribs and a face made of resilient paper, satin, or silk gauze. When unfolded, it forms a semicircular shape, gathering at the head while spreading at the tail.

Historical Origins

The folding fan traces its origins to the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 AD). According to The Book of Han, handheld fans like "silk round fans" (纨扇) and "feather fans" (羽扇) existed during this period. However, the earliest prototype of the modern folding fan emerged in the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420-589 AD). These early versions typically featured bamboo ribs and silk faces, prized by literati for their portability and effortless opening/closing mechanism. （Wang 2023，9）

The folding fan truly flourished during the Song Dynasty (960-1279 AD). Advances in papermaking and bamboo carving techniques enabled mass production and popularization. Gradually, it evolved from a practical tool into a cultural artifact embodying artistic value. The Ming Dynasty (1368-1644 AD) witnessed the folding fan's golden age. Emperor Chengzu (Zhu Di) particularly favored these fans, commissioning large quantities for imperial gifts and elevating their status as essential social etiquette objects. Scholars enthusiastically adorned fan surfaces with poetry and paintings, seamlessly integrating calligraphy and art with functionality（Liu 2021，73）.

By the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912 AD), craftsmanship reached its zenith. Materials diversified dramatically—ivory, tortoiseshell, and sandalwood became prized for ribs, while surfaces grew ornate with intricate inlay work. Distinct regional styles emerged, including Suzhou (苏扇), Hangzhou (杭扇), and Ningbo (宁扇) traditions, transforming the folding fan into an emblem of social standing and refined discernment.

Production Process

The creation of a folding fan constitutes an intricate traditional craft involving dozens of procedures from material selection to final assembly. Among them, the Suzhou fan is renowned for its elegance, exquisite craftsmanship, and distinctive artistic character. With a history spanning over a thousand years, it is not only an art form but also a witness to history and a carrier of cultural heritage. In 2006, the craftsmanship of Suzhou fan-making was among the first to be included in China's National Intangible Cultural Heritage List. The main steps of its production process are as follows（Wu 2024,98）:

(1) Material Selection

Ribs demand premium materials: bamboo varieties like Xiangfei (mottled bamboo), Zong (lacquer bamboo), and Meilu (spotted bamboo), or precious woods such as rosewood and yellow huanghuali. Fan surfaces typically employ xuan paper, silk gauze, or satin, chosen according to functional and artistic requirements.

(2) Rib Crafting

Selected bamboo/wood is cut into strips, treated through steaming and sun-drying to prevent warping and insect damage. Subsequent polishing, carving, and pyrography techniques adorn ribs with landscapes, flora/fauna, figures, or poetic inscriptions.

(3) Surface Mounting

A thin paste layer is evenly applied to xuan paper or silk, which is then meticulously aligned and pressed onto ribs. Edges receive precision trimming to ensure seamless integration before air-drying.

(4) Assembly

Ribs and surfaces are joined with hinge pins and end caps. The rivet tension is calibrated through repeated folding tests to guarantee smooth operation without looseness or stiffness.

(5) Embellishment

Ribs undergo final enrichment through inlay, openwork, or polychrome painting. Calligraphers and painters may grace surfaces with bespoke artworks, transforming functional objects into unique artistic statements.

Usage Scenarios and Etiquette

In traditional Chinese society, folding fans were utilized across diverse contexts while embodying specific etiquette rules:

(1) Social Occasions

Folding fans served as crucial accessories for ancient scholars. During literary gatherings (yaji) or poetry sessions, literati would:

• Hold folding fans to partially conceal their faces, swaying them gently to demonstrate refined elegance;

• Exchange fans as expressions of friendship and respect, with inscribed poems and paintings conveying the giver's sentiments and aspirations;

• Carry fans during business negotiations or visits not only as status symbols but also observing proper etiquette in opening/closing methods and positioning to reflect personal cultivation.

(2) Performing Arts

In the realm of artistic performances, such as traditional Chinese opera and dance, the folding fan serves as an indispensable prop with a unique role. Peking Opera actors use various ways of holding and manipulating the fan to reveal a character's personality and emotions; dancers employ the opening, closing, and twirling of the fan to complement their body language, creating graceful and fluid visual effects. Particularly in the performance of Chinese classical dance, the folding fan not only enhances the dancer's physical expressiveness but also conveys the inner emotions of the character.

It acts as a distinctive marker of a character's identity, while simultaneously shaping varied stage atmospheres and artistic conceptions. Moreover, it precisely portrays emotions and delicately expresses a character's state. For instance, in the play The Peach Blossom Fan by Kong Shangren, the folding fan becomes a crucial element woven throughout the entire drama. Appearing across multiple scenes, it weaves the protagonist's love story through performance sequences like gifting the fan, splattering it with blood, painting on it, sending it away, and tearing it apart, thereby revealing the richness and complexity of the characters (Wu 2024，74).

Similarly, in the classical dance piece Shan Wu Dan Qing(《扇舞丹青》）, the beauty of the folding fan manifests itself in the most vivid way.

(3) Daily Life

In summer, folding fans were widely used as cooling implements; gentle swaying generated refreshing breezes. As weather cooled, fans could be folded into sleeves, becoming portable decorative accessories. Additionally, fans served to shield one's face, conveying sentiments discreetly when direct expression was inconvenient. Fan etiquette required observance of specific protocols:

• Handle fans with clean hands and graceful motions; avoid careless waving or rough treatment;

• When presenting a fan to others, orient its decorated side toward the recipient to demonstrate respect;

• Before elders or superiors, exercise restraint in usage—eschewing flamboyance to embody humble courtesy.

Chinese folding fan culture stands not only as a radiant gem within traditional Chinese heritage but also as a treasured legacy in humanity's cultural repository. Embodying historical memories, artistic excellence, and cultural ethos, it continuously shapes aesthetic sensibilities and lifestyles—serving as a cultural conduit bridging past, present, and future.

Terms and Expressions​

扇骨：Rib​

扇面：Fan Surface

纨扇：silk round fans

羽扇：feather fans

苏扇：Suzhou Fan​

裱面：Surface Mounting​

烫花：Hot - stamping Pattern​

Questions​

1. When was the prosperous period of folding fans?
2. What are the steps in the production process of Suzhou - style Folding Fan​?
3. What occasions are folding fans traditionally be used at?

Answers

1. Song Dynasty.
2. Five main steps: Material selecting, rib crafting, surface mounting, assembly and embellishment.
3. Social gatherings, performances and daily lifes.

References

[1]Zhu Y .Study on the Status and Development of Suzhou Folding Fans under the Background of Intangible Cultural Heritage[J].The Art & Design Research,2020,1(2):

[2] Chen Y.B., Xing R.C. A Brief Discussion on the Historical Evolution of Suzhou Fan Decoration Forms[J]. Art Education Research, 2020, (04): 47-48.

[3] Liu L. Changes in Types of Folding Fan Surfaces[J]. Journal of Suzhou Art & Design Technology Institute, 2021, (03): 73-75.

[4] Sun B.H. Practical Research on the Use of Opera Folding Fans in Teaching Female Class Body Rhythm of Chinese Classical Dance[D]. Shenyang Normal University, 2023.

[5] Wang H.L. Research on Landscape Painting on Folding Fans in the Qing Dynasty[D]. Qufu Normal University, 2023.

[6] Wang L. Research on Modern Development of Suzhou Fan Traditional Craftsmanship[D]. Soochow University, 2012.

[7] Wu J., Bai Y., Ma X. Research on Inheritance and Development of Suzhou Fan-Making Techniques under Cultural Creative Industry Development[J]. New Legends, 2024, (43): 98-100.

[8] Wu P., Jiang B. Analysis of Application Techniques and Functions of Folding Fans in Chinese Classical Dance Performance[J]. Shenhua, 2024, (31): 74-76.

AI Statement

To help me to write my final paper, I have used Baidu and the following AI chatbots: deepseek and Doubao, I have prompted the chatbot with the following prompt: "Now you are a student majoring in English translation, and you are required to write a Chinese version of the folding fan culture of about 1300 words. The content includes 1. historical origins, 2. production steps, 3. usage scenarios and etiquette, and extract some terminology expressions based on the written content."

I found the following problems with the outcome: The answer given by AI is presented in the form of a table, which does not meet the requirements, so I added another promt:

I have adjusted the output by the following measures (revising prompt as: "Now you are a student majoring in English translation, and you are required to write a Chinese version of the folding fan culture of about 1300 words. The content includes 1. historical origins, 2. production steps, 3. usage scenarios and etiquette, all presented in written text, and extract some terminology expressions based on the written content."

Riten the following passages new：one part is producting process and the other is performaing art.

Finally, after finalizing the Chinese manuscript, I used Baidu Translate to generate an initial English draft. Then, I employed DeepSeek to polish the text. My prompt was: "Please refine this text to ensure idiomatic English expression while meeting the requirements for cultural communication."

Regarding the references section, I searched the CNKI database using keywords such as "folding fans" and "folding fan culture," reviewed relevant literature, and selected and cited content pertinent to my research.

Manualy corecing the folowing references：

[5]王红丽.清代折扇山水画研究[D].曲阜师范大学,2023. [1]

[7]吴竞,柏阳,马晓.文创产业发展背景下苏扇制作技艺传承发展研究[J].新传奇,2024,(43):98-100. [2]

[8]吴鹏,蒋波.浅析折扇在中国古典舞表演中的应用技法及功能[J].参花,2024,(31):74-76. [3]

折扇：历史、工艺与礼仪

折扇，又名“撒扇”、“旋风扇”、“紧头扇”。是一种用竹木或象牙做扇骨、韧纸或绫绢做扇面的能折叠的扇子；用时须撒开，成半规形，聚头散尾。​

一、历史渊源

​ 折扇的起源可追溯至东汉时期，据《汉书》记载，当时已有 “纨扇”“羽扇” 等形式，但现代意义上的折扇雏形最早见于南北朝时期。那时的折扇多为竹骨绢面，以携带轻便、开合自如的特点受到文人雅士青睐。不过，折扇真正的繁荣期始于宋代，随着造纸术与竹雕工艺的进步，折扇开始大量生产并普及，逐渐从实用工具转变为兼具艺术价值的文化载体。​（王 2023,9）

到了明代，折扇迎来鼎盛阶段。明成祖朱棣尤为喜爱折扇，曾下令大量制作并赏赐群臣，推动其成为社交礼仪中的重要物件。文人墨客热衷于在扇面题诗作画，将书法、绘画与折扇完美融合，使折扇兼具实用与审美功能（刘 2021，73）。

清代时期，折扇工艺达到巅峰，材质越发丰富，象牙、玳瑁、檀香木等珍贵材料被用于扇骨制作，扇面装饰也更加繁复，形成了苏扇、杭扇、宁扇等各具特色的地域流派，折扇也由此成为彰显身份与品味的象征。

二、制作步骤

​ 折扇的制作是一门精细复杂的传统工艺，每一种扇子的制作工艺及其艺术风格都有所不同，从原料选取到成品完成，需经过数十道工序。其中，“苏扇”以雅致精巧，富有艺术特色而著称，距今已有一千多年的历史，不仅是艺术品，更是一种历史见证，一种文化传承。苏扇的制扇技艺于 2006 年首批被纳入国家非物质文化遗产名录，其制作流程的主要步骤如下（吴 2024,98）：​

（一）选料：

扇骨选材讲究，优质的竹材如湘妃竹、棕竹、梅鹿竹是常见选择，木质材料则有紫檀、黄花梨等；扇面常用宣纸、绢、绫等，根据用途与工艺需求进行挑选。​

（二）制骨：

将选好的竹材或木材切割成条，经过蒸煮、晾晒等处理，防止变形与虫蛀；再通过打磨、雕刻、烫花等工艺，在扇骨上呈现山水、花鸟、人物等图案或诗文。​

（三）裱面：

将扇面纸张或绢布均匀涂抹浆糊，平整粘贴在扇骨上，待其干燥固定；边缘部分需精细处理，确保扇面与扇骨紧密贴合。​

（四）装配：

将扇骨与扇面组装，安装扇头、扇钉等部件，调试开合松紧度，保证折扇开合顺畅。​

（五）装饰：

根据设计需求，对扇骨进行镶嵌、镂空、彩绘等装饰，扇面则邀请书画家题字作画，赋予折扇独特的艺术魅力。

三、使用的场景以及礼节

​ 在传统中国社会，折扇应用于丰富多样的场景，同时承载着特定的礼仪规范：

（一）社交场合

折扇是古代文人社交的重要道具。在雅集、诗会等场合，文人常手持折扇，以扇遮面、轻摇慢摆，尽显儒雅风范；互赠折扇也是表达情谊与敬意的方式，扇面上的题诗作画更是寄托了赠者的心意与期许。在商务洽谈、拜访宾客时，携带折扇不仅是身份象征，其开合、摆放的方式也需遵循礼仪，以体现个人修养。​

（二）艺术表演​

在艺术表演领域，如戏曲、舞蹈表演中，折扇作为不可或缺的道具具有一种独特的作用。京剧演员通过折扇的不同持法与动作，展现角色性格与情绪；舞蹈演员借助折扇的开合、翻转，配合肢体语言，营造出优美灵动的视觉效果。尤其是在中国古典舞的演绎中，折扇不仅能够增强舞者的肢体表现力，还可以传递角色内心的情感。它既是角色身份的独特标识，又能营造出多变的舞台氛围和意境，同时精准刻画人物情感，细腻地表现人物状态。例如，在孔尚任所作的剧本《桃花扇》中，折扇成为贯穿全剧的重要元素，贯穿多个场景，以赠扇、溅扇、画扇、寄扇和撕扇等表演情节，塑造了剧中主人公的爱情故事，展示了人物形象的丰富性和复杂性（吴 2024，74）​。在古典舞《扇舞丹青》中，折扇的美也体现地淋漓尽致。

（三）日常生活

夏季，折扇作为纳凉工具被广泛使用，轻轻摇动即可带来凉爽清风；在天气转凉时，折扇又可收于袖中，成为随身携带的装饰品。此外，折扇还可用于遮挡面部，在不便直接表达态度或情绪时，以扇掩面含蓄传递心意。​

在使用折扇的过程中，也有着诸多礼节讲究。例如，持扇时应保持手部干净、动作优雅，避免随意挥舞或粗鲁对待；向他人递扇时，需将扇面正面朝向对方，以示尊重；在长辈或地位较高者面前，使用折扇要更加克制，不可过于张扬，以体现谦逊有礼的态度。​

中国折扇文化不仅是中国传统文化的璀璨明珠，更是世界文化宝库中的珍贵财富。其承载的历史记忆、艺术价值与文化精神，持续影响着人们的审美与生活，成为连接过去、现在与未来的文化纽带。

术语表达

扇骨：Rib​

扇面：Fan Surface

纨扇：silk round fans

羽扇：feather fans

苏扇：Suzhou Fan​

裱面：Surface Mounting​

烫花：Hot - stamping Pattern​

问题​

1. 折扇的繁荣时期是何时？

2. “苏扇” 制作流程有哪些步骤？

3. 折扇传统使用于哪些场合？

回答

1. 宋朝。

2. 有五个主要步骤：选料、制骨、裱面、装配、装饰。

3. 社交场合、艺术表演以及日常生活中。

参考文献

[1]Zhu Y .Study on the Status and Development of Suzhou Folding Fans under the Background of Intangible Cultural Heritage[J].The Art & Design Research,2020,1(2): [4]

[2]陈银波,邢若晨. 浅谈苏扇装饰形式的历史演变[J].美术教育研究, 2020, (04): 47-48. [5]

[3]刘雷. 折扇扇面种类的变迁[J].苏州工艺美术职业技术学院学报, 2021, (03): 73-75. [6]

[4]孙百合. 戏曲折扇在中国古典舞身韵女班教学中的实践研究[D]. 沈阳师范大学, 2023. [7]

[5]王红丽.清代折扇山水画研究[D].曲阜师范大学,2023. [8]

[6]王丽. 苏扇传统手工艺现代发展研究[D]. 苏州大学, 2012. [9]

[7]吴竞,柏阳,马晓.文创产业发展背景下苏扇制作技艺传承发展研究[J].新传奇,2024,(43):98-100. [10]

[8]吴鹏,蒋波.浅析折扇在中国古典舞表演中的应用技法及功能[J].参花,2024,(31):74-76. [11]