China's Five Most Famous Fans

China's five most famous fans—the Hangzhou black paper fan, the Suzhou sandalwood fan, the Sichuan Zigong bamboo fan, the Guangdong Xinhui sunflower fan, and the Zhaoqing ox bone fan—are the shining pearls of Chinese fan culture. They are renowned for their unique materials and exquisite craftsmanship, carrying rich value and boasting a long history.

The Hangzhou Black Paper Fan

The Hangzhou black paper fan originated in the Southern Song Dynasty and is renowned for its ability to withstand rain and sun without warping. It uses bamboo as the ribs, a tough and fine-grained material that provides a sturdy support for the fan surface; and mulberry paper as the cover, a paper with fine fibers and excellent toughness. The fan's crafting process involves over 80 steps, including selecting the bamboo, splitting the ribs, sawing grooves, and mounting the cover. The fan surface is repeatedly coated with persimmon lacquer to achieve a glossy black. Combining the practicality of providing sun and rain protection with the artistic quality of calligraphy and painting, the fan is both a daily necessity and a precious work of art.

The Suzhou Sandalwood Fan

The Suzhou sandalwood fan dates back to the late Ming and early Qing dynasties. Made from sandalwood, it boasts a long-lasting fragrance and a hard, fine texture. The craftsmanship utilizes exquisite techniques such as drawing, embossing, and carving. Drawing uses a special knife to create intricate hollow patterns on the fan surface, while embossing uses high temperatures to burn intricate patterns. Carving requires the artisan to use a knife instead of a brush, carving lifelike designs into the fan ribs and surface. The finished fan is exquisitely crafted and fragrant, possessing both aesthetic and collectible value, making it a favorite of scholars and women of the boudoir.

Sichuan Zigong Bamboo Silk Fans

Sichuan Zigong bamboo silk fans originated in the Qing Dynasty. They utilize Yinshan yellow bamboo, which grows in shady areas and has a flexible, slender fiber. To create, artisans split the bamboo into hair-thin strands, which are then tightly woven onto a porcelain base. Using techniques such as picking, pressing, breaking, and splicing, the strands are skillfully combined to create exquisite designs of flowers, birds, fish, insects, landscapes, and figures. The entire process is entirely manual, resulting in intricate workmanship. The finished product boasts beautiful patterns and flowing lines. Hailed as a "treasure of Chinese bamboo weaving art," it showcases the pinnacle of traditional Chinese bamboo weaving techniques.

The Xinhui Sunflower Fan

The Xinhui Sunflower Fan, a specialty of Guangdong, originated in the Eastern Jin Dynasty. It's made from palm leaves, a Xinhui specialty known for their broad, flexible, and dense fibers. Its production involves a multi-step process, including sun-drying, cutting, roasting, baking, and dyeing. The leaves are first air-dried to set their shape, then trimmed into the desired shape. They are then baked and roasted to soften them, then dyed to impart a variety of colors. Finally, the edges are sewn and the handles are added. The resulting sunflower fan is light and soft, and its surface can be painted or embroidered. It combines practical cooling and decorative functions, becoming a vivid representation of Lingnan culture.

The Zhaoqing Ox Bone Fan

The Zhaoqing Ox Bone Fan is primarily made from ox bones, such as leg bones and ribs, which are known for their hardness and uniform density. During production, the bones are sawed, split, chiseled, turned, and ground until they are as thin as a cicada's wing and as white as jade. Carving and hollowing are then performed according to the design. Combining fan surfaces made of silk, rice paper, and other materials, through inlaying and gluing techniques, the finished products are elegant and uniquely crafted. The natural texture of the ox bone complements the fan patterns, making them of exceptional artistic value.

The Five Famous Fans have been honed over the years, each embodying the wisdom and dedication of the artisans. They are not only practical tools for cooling off, but also perfect carriers of traditional craftsmanship and culture, bearing witness to the Chinese nation's legacy of ingenuity.