• 关于我们
    演出
    走近神韵
    神韵九大特点
    中国古典舞
    神韵交响乐团
    Factsheet
    艺术团
    我们的故事
    在神韵生活
    我们面临的挑战
  • 艺术家
  • 视频
  • 最新消息
    最新消息
    新闻
    博客
    媒体报导
  • 新闻发布
  • 常见问题
  • 观众反馈
  • 神韵百科 新闻通讯 搜索
    中文简体
  • English
  • 中文正體
  • 日本語
  • 한국어
  • Česky
  • Deutsch
  • Español
  • Français
  • Indonesia
  • Italiano
  • Nederlands
  • Polski
  • Português
  • Latviski
  • Pусский
  • Română
  • Svenska
  • Việt
  • Melayu
  • עברית
  • Norsk
  • 订票信息
    选单
    Shen Yun Logo
    订票
    最新消息
    选单
    • 关于我们
      • 走近神韵 神韵九大特点 我们的故事 在神韵生活 关于神韵的基本事实 我们面临的挑战 中国古典舞 神韵交响乐团
    • 艺术家
    • 视频
    • 最新消息
      • 最新消息 新闻 博客 媒体报导
    • 新闻发布
    • 常见问题
    • 观众反馈
    Shen Yun 9 Characteristics Link Image

    神韵的高超之处?

    9大特点
    • 神韵百科
    • 订阅
    • 搜索
    语言
    • English
    • 中文正體
    • 日本語
    • 한국어
    • Česky
    • Deutsch
    • Español
    • Français
    • Indonesia
    • Italiano
    • Nederlands
    • Polski
    • Português
    • Latviski
    • Pусский
    • Română
    • Svenska
    • Việt
    • Melayu
    • עברית
    • Norsk
      博客
      上一页 博客 > Chinese Fans—More than Cool

    Chinese Fans—More than Cool

    The ancients of ancient China once anciently said: "Fans are the essence of cooling, and cooling is the essence of life." At least, that's what they could've said. With fans almost as omnipresent as clothing and indispensable as food, ancient Chinese people depended on fans to survive. But how? Why? And, most importantly, really?

    It is difficult to measure the fantastic and immeasurable impact of the fan through our current mindset. We must venture to the past and seek the peak of its multifaceted glory. We must journey to ancient China.

    But before we hop in the DeLorean, let’s first define what a "fan" is. The iPhone dictionary app defines the fan as an apparatus with rotating blades (not the one we’re talking about), or a device typically folding and semicircular, which creates a current of air for cooling. Sounds definitive enough. However, despite the vast majority of fans being used in said fashion today, the Chinese found many novel applications. So strap on those seat belts and fire up that flux capacitor, we’re heading back to the future! Errr I mean past! Great Scott!

    Fans as Canvases

    From water paintings of lotus blossoms to calligraphy, fans were the paper of the past. Back when the artistic fan was invented, around the 2nd century B.C., conventional painting canvases were yet to be discovered, and Chinese often used bamboo fans as objects of artistic expression. These nifty contraptions were totally trendy, portable, and doubly functional as regular fans.

    Equally common was the poetic fan, which many poets, upon receiving sudden inspiration, would scribble their strokes of genius onto. These poets often carried many blank fans on their frequent imagination-probing journeys, seeking insights and revelations in foreign cities and distant mountains. When reciting a poem, a Chinese scholar could typically be seen swaying and waving his fan in admiration of lyrical pulchritude.

    Fans as Weapons

    Much like the ideal ancient Chinese man, both learned and proficient in martial arts (文武双全), there existed kung fu fans (kung fans for short). At a time when swords, spears, and tigers were readily available, these kung fans were surprisingly the weapons of choice for many warriors, including the famed imperial guards of the Qing Dynasty (a Shen Yun fan favorite dance this year!). Typically made of sturdy steel, the kung fan was firm and durable when closed and lethally sharp and deadly when open.

    While kung fans were mostly used in close range hand-to-hand combat, smaller fans could also be used as projectiles, causing splash damage when opening before impact. They also provided a much-needed breeze in the heat of battle.

    The kung fan was equally befitting the stealthier mercenary, its commonplace usage a convenient disguise. Already a great weapon in its own right, small knives or poison darts could also be hidden within the fan’s individual blades, supplying the aspiring assassin an array of deadly options.

    This is ironically symbolic. In ancient times, fans were customarily given as parting gifts between friends or lovers and, apparently, between enemies as well.

    Of course, fans had many other applications. They were used to indicate social status, swat insects, punish mischievous children, cut steak and meat, and as napping eye masks. But there’s one more significant use worth mentioning.

    Fans as Props

    The most glamorous of all fans are those that fulfill their function on stage: the prop fans. The fan is no stranger to show biz—many cultures have historically engaged in some form of fan-related performance. While other types of fans faded with the passage of time, prop fans have weathered super sedation to continue to enjoy their lavish thespian lives today.

    In the world of theater, prop fans have maintained a steady level of usage, with Shen Yun being their most avid client. Our prop fans come in many shapes, sizes, colors and designs. From the elegant elliptical fans of Manchurian women to the vibrant yellow pairs that unite to form chrysanthemum orbs, from the flowing fans of the water nymphs to the royal fans accompanying the Emperor himself—Shen Yun is the closest you'll get to observing fans in their natural habitat. So if your DeLorean is out of gas, catch Shen Yun instead, and you just might find yourself a fan in no time.

    • Artist Perspectives
    • 中国传统文化
    • Chinese Poetry
    • Dance Props
    • Martial Arts
    • Fine Art
    • Eastern Etiquette

    Brian Nieh

    Sound Engineer with Shen Yun's Touring Company

    显示所有文章

    2012年4月21日

    评论
    verification

    上一页

    North America Tour Log – April

    下一页

    Tour is Drawing to an End...
    最近
    • 艺术和修炼随想
      Lianxu Header
    • 我的选择,我的责任
      Xianglai Liu Thumb
    • 用生命换来的礼物
      Deru Blog Thumb
    • 你要的是什么?
      Alan Thumb
    • 尼亚加拉瀑布游记
      NiagaraFalls Landscape P1010670
    最多点击
    • 全部
    • 新闻
    • 博客
  • 1 DC肯尼迪中心收到针对神韵的炸弹威胁
  • 2 林肯中心观众称神韵「纯粹的完美」
  • 显示更多
  • 1 林肯中心观众称神韵「纯粹的完美」
  • 显示更多
    显示更多

    标签

    • Artist Perspectives
    • 中国传统文化
    • Chinese Poetry
    • Dance Props
    • Martial Arts
    • Fine Art
    • Eastern Etiquette
    Shen Yun logo golden
    Shen Yun logo golden

    神韵艺术团是全球顶级中国古典舞与传统音乐艺术团。神韵艺术团成立于纽约,通过中国古典舞、民族民间舞、舞剧、交响乐伴奏、乐器独奏和美声独唱,复兴与弘扬中国五千年正统神传文化。

    关于神韵
  • 走近神韵
  • 神韵交响乐团
  • 在神韵生活
  • 关于神韵的基本事实
  • 我们面临的挑战
  • 藝術與靈性的啟迪
  • 艺术家
  • 观赏礼仪
  • 视频
  • 最新
  • 关于我们
  • 艺术家
  • 观众反馈
  • 媒体报导
  • 最新消息
  • 推荐置顶
  • 新闻
  • 博客
  • 观众反馈
  • 媒体报导
  • 神韵百科
  • 神韵舞蹈
  • 神韵音乐
  • 神韵声乐
  • 神韵服饰
  • 神韵天幕
  • 神韵道具
  • 神韵舞剧
  • 神韵与中国传统文化
  • 与神韵互动:
    Follow Us on Gan Jing World
    请留言以作纪念
    神韵作品
    神韵的线上影音平台
    艺术考级中心
    神韵艺术品
    神韵艺术家
    神韵艺术团官方网站 ©2025 神韵艺术团,版权所有。
    联系我们 使用条款 隐私政策 网站地图