Chinese Calligraphy: Fans and Duilian
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Poem in Running and Cursive Scripts on Fan Paper, By Zhang Ruitu, China, Ming dynasty, 16th–17th century (Gift of Dr. Hayashi Munetake)
Asian Gallery (Toyokan) Room 8
July 30, 2019 (Tue) - September 16, 2019 (Mon)Fans and duilian are two characteristic formats for Chinese calligraphy and painting. Since the Han dynasty (206 BC–220 AD), painting and calligraphy have adorned Chinese fans, but it was only from the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) that inscribing fans with calligraphy and decorating them with paintings became popular. Printed fans also became widespread in this period.
Duilian is a form of counterpoint, in which Chinese poetry is written on two strips of paper of even length. The characters on each strip correspond to one another. Since the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period (907–979), duilian were written for congratulations and condolences, and became part of daily life. During the Qing dynasty (1644–1912), the exchange of duilian became fashionable among scholars.
Current exhibit includes:
Poem in Running and Cursive Scripts on Fan Paper, By Zhang Ruitu, China, Ming dynasty, 16th–17th century (Gift of Dr. Hayashi Munetake)
Poem in Cursive Script on Fan Paper, By Mi Wanzhong, China, Ming dynasty, 16th–17th century (Gift of Mr. Takashima Kikujiro)
Poem in Cursive Script on Fan Paper, By Wu Changshuo, China, Qing dynasty, dated 1886 (Gift of Mr. Aoyama San'u)
Duilian in Clerical Script, By Wu Xizai, China, Qing dynasty, 19th century (Gift of Mr. Takashima Kikujiro)
Duilian in Running Script, By Shen Shuyong, China, Qing dynasty, 19th century (Gift of Mr. Aoyama San'u)