About the Chinese Fan Dancing
Most traditional Chinese folk dances can be dated to between 4,000 and 6,000 years ago. The formalized Chinese fan dance dates from 2,000 years ago and was developed during the Han dynasty.
The Fan
The earliest Chinese fans date back 3,000 to 4,000 years ago. Chinese fans today are made of a variety of materials, including bamboo, silk, feathers, leaves and either painted or unpainted paper. Ornate fans are used decoratively or in fan dancing, and simpler, more durable fans may be used in everyday life.
Kung Fu Fan Dance
Fan dances are generally divided into folk dances and formal classical dances. Folk dances include the kung fu fan dance, which is sometimes called the tai chi fan dance. These dances add beauty to traditional tai chi chuan exercises or kung fu exercises. Kung fu fan dances are often woven into fighting styles where heavier fans are used as weapons.
Classical Fan Dances
Classical fan dances include the traditional Han group dances that are performed on stages in front of an audience. The Chinese fan dance was transferred to Japan, where the Japanese variant has become a national treasure.
Dance Stories
Many fan dances tell stories, whether performed by a single dancer or a group. In some cases, the dances were performed to help fuse China's diverse ethnic groups into a single kingdom. High fan dances often tell traditional stories, while folk-oriented fan dances may be performed simply for their visual beauty.
Imperial Dances
The early history of the fan dance includes its performance by imperial concubines to tempt the Chinese emperor. On special occasions, a portion of the imperial harem would rehearse and perform a fan dance, with each concubine performing her best to help curry imperial favor in the interest of bearing a son who could be a potential heir to the throne.
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