Agitate the air

"Appreciating Plums"
by Chinese artistChen Hongshou

The oldest existing Chinese fans are a pair of woven bamboo side-mounted fans from the 2nd century BCE. The Chinese fixed fan, pien-mien, means “to agitate the air”. A particular status and gender would be associated with a specific type of fan. During the Song Dynasty, famous artists were often commissioned to paint fans.

The Chinese character for "fan" (扇) is etymologically derived from a picture of feathers under a roof.

Ready For The Ballby Sophie Anderson

In the 17th century the folding fan, introduced from East Asia, became popular in Europe. These fans are particularly well displayed in the portraits of the high-born women of the era. Queen Elizabeth I of England can be seen to carry both folding fans decorated with pom poms on their guardsticks as well as the older style rigid fan, usually decorated with feathers and jewels.

Client: Red Dragon Commercial Center

Job: Outdoor layout

Concept: ...from China

China has been the source of many innovations, scientific discoveries and inventions. This includes the Four Great Inventions: papermaking, the compass,gunpowder and printing (both woodblock and movable type). A number of layouts will present Ancient Chinese Inventions.