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Final Exam Paper

Chinese intangible Cultural Heritage - The folding fan

Introduction

Among China's rich intangible cultural heritages, the folding fan carries the Oriental beauty and humanistic emotions of thousands of years. It is not merely a daily item for ancient people to cool off in summer, but also a traditional object that combines practicality, craftsmanship and cultural significance, which can directly reflect the spiritual world of the Chinese nation. In 2008, the art of making folding fans was included in the National List of Intangible Cultural Heritage, and this ancient folk craft has ushered in new development opportunities. This article will explore the unique value and inheritance and development path of the folding fan as an intangible cultural heritage from four aspects: its historical origin, craftsmanship features, artistic connotation and contemporary inheritance.

Historical origin

The round fan originated from the "bian mian" in the Pre-Qin period. It was mostly made of bamboo or papyrus and was used for shading and dust blocking. The development of the silk weaving industry in the Han Dynasty gave rise to the circular "round fan" (also known as "Huanhuan fan") with silk as the fan surface. Ban Jieyu's "Song of Resentment" vividly depicted it. At this time, it had become a carrier for the emotional expression of the women in the imperial court.

During the Wei, Jin, Northern and Southern Dynasties, the manufacturing techniques of folding fans further developed. The material of the fan surface expanded from a single silk to brocade, gauze, and other materials, while the fan ribs were made of precious materials such as bamboo, wood, and ivory. Simple paintings and embroideries began to appear on the fan surface.

The Tang Dynasty was the heyday of the development of round fans. The social atmosphere was open and handicrafts flourished. The shapes of round fans became more diverse. Besides the round ones, there were also irregular shapes such as crabapple-shaped, plum blossom-shaped and hexagonal ones. At this time, the folding fan was not only a luxury item for the imperial court and nobility, but also entered the homes of ordinary people and became the subject of praise for scholars and poets.

During the Song and Yuan dynasties, the artistic value of the round fan was further enhanced, and the painting on the fan surface became an important form of expression in literati painting. During the Song Dynasty, scholars and poets such as Emperor Huizong and Mi Fu were all skilled at painting on fan surfaces. They incorporated themes such as landscapes, flowers and birds, and figures into the fan surfaces, turning the folding fan into an art piece that integrates poetry, calligraphy, painting and seal engraving.

During the Ming and Qing dynasties, the craftsmanship of making round fans reached its peak. The carving skills on the fan ribs became increasingly exquisite, and the themes of embroidery and painting on the fan surfaces became more extensive. Famous local schools such as "Suzhou fans", "Hangzhou fans", and "Sichuan Fans" emerged. Round fans thus became the culmination of traditional Chinese craftsmanship.

Process characteristics

The making of a round fan is a complex systematic project, involving multiple steps such as material selection, bone making, surface stretching, painting and embroidery. Each process embodies the wisdom and hard work of the artisans. Its technological features are mainly reflected in the following three aspects:

First, the materials are carefully selected and the pursuit of excellence is pursued. The production of folding fans has strict requirements for materials. The fan ribs are mostly made of materials with excellent texture and grain, such as bamboo, wood and ivory. For bamboo bones, Anji moso bamboo is the best choice, while for wood bones, precious woods such as rosewood are considered superior. The fan surface is made of light and breathable silk such as brocade, gauze and gauze. Among them, Hangzhou textile and Song brocade are particularly well-known. These high-quality materials ensure the unique texture of the folding fan.

Second, the bone-making is exquisite and the carving is unparalleled. The production of fan ribs is the core link in the craftsmanship of folding fans. It requires multiple processes such as sawing, planing, filing and grinding to form a smooth and round shape. The ribs of high-end folding fans are also carved with techniques such as intaglio and relief engraving to depict landscapes, poetry and other themes. Suzhou micro-carvings are even more exquisite and unparalleled. Hundreds of characters can be engraved on the slender ribs of fans, fully demonstrating the superb craftsmanship.

Third, the surface is fine and the decoration is diverse. The process of stretching the surface requires first cutting the silk into shape, and then fixing it on the fan ribs through methods such as pasting and sewing. Throughout the process, it is necessary to ensure that the fan surface is flat and taut. The decoration of the fan surface mainly features paintings and embroiderings. The paintings are done with meticulous or freehand techniques, while the embroiderings rely on well-known embroidery styles such as Suzhou embroidery. The stitches are delicate and dynamic, making the folding fan both practical and artistic.

Artistic connotation

The round fan is a concentrated embodiment of Eastern aesthetics, with rich and diverse artistic connotations. The round fan, with a circular shape as its basic form, symbolizes reunion and harmony, embodying the philosophy of "the unity of heaven and man". The circular fan surface and the slender fan handle form a dynamic and static contrast. The irregular-shaped round fan also maintains symmetry and balance, fully demonstrating the beauty of integration. As a stage for scholars and poets to display their talents, the fan surface perfectly integrates poetry, calligraphy, painting and seal engraving, creating a rich cultural atmosphere. The painting subjects embody the character of scholars, and poetry and paintings complement each other, becoming a carrier of the spirit of scholars. Meanwhile, the round fan gradually became a symbol of women. Its light and gentle temperament was in line with women's needs. The content on the fan surface mostly reflected women's emotional life. Moreover, its development was closely linked to the spirit of The Times. The open and inclusive style of the Tang Dynasty, the reserved and subtle style of the Song Dynasty, and the secularization trend of the Ming and Qing Dynasties were all reflected in the form and theme of the round fan, making it a vivid reflection of the spirit of The Times.

Modern Inheritance and Development

The development of modern technology has led to electric fans and air conditioners replacing the practical functions of folding fans. The traditional market has shrunk, and the manufacturing techniques are facing the predicament of inheritance. On the one hand, the process of making folding fans is complex, time-consuming and has low economic benefits. Young people lack the willingness to learn, and old artisans, being advanced in age, have difficulty finding successors. Many exquisite techniques are on the verge of being lost. On the other hand, under the impact of Western aesthetics, traditional aesthetics have been marginalized, and the public's insufficient understanding of the cultural value of the round fan has increased the difficulty of its inheritance.

In the face of difficulties, all sectors of society have been actively exploring the path of inheritance. Local governments have included the art of making folding fans in the list of intangible cultural heritage protection, providing financial and policy support. Historic regions such as Suzhou and Hangzhou have established inheritance bases and studios, encouraged the recruitment of apprentices, and regularly held exhibitions and experience activities to enhance public awareness. Designers collaborate with inheritors to innovate, preserving the core techniques while integrating cartoon characters and modern illustrations into the fan surfaces. They use eco-friendly materials to make the fan ribs, launching cultural and creative products that are both practical and fashionable, bringing the round fan back to daily life.

New media provides new channels for inheritance. The inheritors showcase the entire production process through short videos and live streaming, explain historical and cultural knowledge, and attract a large number of young fans. E-commerce platforms have set up special sections for intangible cultural heritage, enabling folding fans to go global through online sales and spread China's intangible cultural heritage to the world.

Conclusion

The round fan, a light and delicate small fan that carries the cultural memory of a thousand years, has evolved from a luxurious accessory in the imperial court to a daily necessity in the folk, from a carrier of literati art to a treasure of intangible cultural heritage today. Despite the passage of time, it still exudes a unique charm. It is a microcosm of China's fine traditional culture, embodying the wisdom of craftsmanship and carrying the aesthetic sentiments of the Chinese people.

In contemporary times, protecting and inheriting the art of making folding fans is not only a rescue of intangible cultural heritage projects but also a safeguard of cultural roots. In the future, we should also further enhance the protection and inheritance of the intangible cultural heritage of folding fans, allowing this "jewel in the palm of our hands" to continue to shine with brilliant light in the new era and contribute to the cultural rejuvenation of the Chinese nation.

Terms and Expressions

非物质文化遗产 Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) 团扇 round fan 便面 bian mian (Pre-Qin period primitive fan) 合欢扇 Huanhuan fan 纨扇 silk round fan 扇骨 fan rib 扇面 fan surface 绷面 surface stretching 阴刻 intaglio engraving 阳刻 relief engraving 微雕 micro-carving 工笔（画法） meticulous painting technique 写意（画法） freehand painting technique 苏绣 Suzhou embroidery 杭纺 Hangzhou textile 宋锦 Song brocade 安吉毛竹 Anji moso bamboo 紫檀 rosewood 苏扇 Suzhou fan 杭扇 Hangzhou fan 川扇 Sichuan fan 文人画 literati painting 诗书画印 poetry, calligraphy, painting and seal engraving 天人合一 the unity of heaven and man 非遗传承基地 intangible cultural heritage inheritance base 文创产品 cultural and creative products 非遗产业化 intangible cultural heritage industrialization 新媒体传承 new media inheritance 直播带货 live streaming sales 线上销售 online sales