Shanghai Museum: The Ultimate Beauty of Fans (Part 1)

Exhibition of Famous Fan Paintings and Calligraphy from Various Dynasties at Shanghai Museum 2025.11.14 – 2026.2.22 Location: Shanghai Museum, People's Square Branch, 1st Floor Chinese fan painting and calligraphy art has a long and profound history, forming a unique artistic system rich in cultural connotations, embodying the aesthetic classic of "using objects to convey the Way." The Song Dynasties marked the first peak period for fan painting and calligraphy art. At this time, silk fans with paintings and calligraphy flourished, producing many exquisite works that have been passed down to this day. Silk fans, also known as round fans, hehuan fans, or palace fans, have fan surfaces made of silk. The silk fan has a long history; Ban Jieyu of the Western Han Dynasty wrote "Song of the Round Fan" (also known as "Song of Resentment"), the earliest surviving poem praising silk fans. Images of fans can be seen in murals and scroll paintings from the Wei, Jin, Northern and Southern Dynasties to the Sui and Tang Dynasties. After a long development, the art of silk fan painting and calligraphy reached its golden age during the Song Dynasties. Most Song emperors loved and promoted fan painting and calligraphy, even personally engaging in creative practice. The one who truly brought silk fan painting and calligraphy to its peak was Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji. He not only personally created silk fan paintings and calligraphy but also vigorously developed the Hanlin Painting Academy and guided its students in sketching and painting. Under his advocacy and promotion, the Huawu paintings of the Xuanhe Painting Academy favored delicate and vivid styles, greatly advancing the prosperity of fan painting and calligraphy art. During the Yuan Dynasty, due to various political, economic, and cultural factors, the art of silk fan painting and calligraphy gradually declined, only to see a revival in the late Qing Dynasty. One Fan, One World; One Fan, One Universe Emperor Huizong of Song, Zhao Ji, elevated fan painting and calligraphy art to its pinnacle. Image 1: Song Dynasty, Zhao Ji, Cursive Script Seven-Character Poem on Fan Leaf Image 2: Song Dynasty, Anonymous, Returning Drunk to the Flower Valley on Fan Leaf Image 5: Song Dynasty, Ma Lin, Night Moon over Pavilion on Fan Leaf Image 8: Song Dynasty, Anonymous, Lady Yu Meiren on Fan Leaf Image 10: Yuan Dynasty, Sheng Mao, Fishing on Autumn River on Fan Leaf Image 16: Song Dynasty, Anonymous, Lotus Pond with Kingfishers on Fan Leaf Image 17: Song Dynasty, Lin Chun, Plum, Bamboo, and Cold Birds on Fan Leaf Image 19: Yuan Dynasty, Anonymous, Snow Clearing on Fan Leaf Dear friends, you must come check it out—it's truly a visual feast. If you love painting and calligraphy, you will definitely regret missing it. Absolutely brilliant and unparalleled [Love][Love][Love]