Illustrations of small screens in the Qing Dynasty-styles and types of seat screens

Is the Qing Dynasty huanghuali screen valuable?

It is valuable. A huanghuali screen once collected by a powerful official in the Qing Dynasty, He|, sold for a sky-high price of 49 million at the Nanjing Zhengda Auction, causing a sensation in the Jiangsu art collection community. Therefore, the huanghuali screen in the Qing Dynasty is valuable. The Huanghuali small screen is a cultural relic from the Qing Dynasty and is collected in the Shanghai Museum. Styles and types of pedestal screens

Styles and types of pedestal screens

Screens are devices used to block wind or provide shelter. It appeared in the Shang and Zhou dynasties, and was called "Di" or "_" at that time. Only noble families were qualified to use it, and it was a symbol of power and status. The name "screen" first appeared in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. "Historical Records·Biography of Mengchangjun" records: "Mengchangjun sat and talked to guests, and there were often attendants behind the screen to record what the king said to the guests." By the Tang Dynasty, the use of screens had already Very common, among which screens using inlay, calligraphy and painting techniques were used by the palace, while plain screens were popular among the people.

There are two types of screens: seat screens and folding screens. A stand screen is a screen that has a base underneath and cannot be folded. Some people also call it a standing screen. There are single-leaf ones, two-leaf ones, and three-leaf ones. Some people also call the seat screen an insert screen. Among them, the smaller seat screen is placed in front of the bed or on the table; for decoration, the folding screen is a foldable screen, also called a surround screen, with six, eight or twelve leaves.

At first, it was used for wind protection and shelter. Later, it continued to develop and the varieties tended to be diversified. There were not only tall screens, but also smaller screens, as well as smaller bed screens and pillow screens. There are also exclusive and purely decorative furnishings.

During the Han and Tang Dynasties, almost all wealthy families used screens. Its form has also increased compared with the previous generation. It has developed from the original single-fan screen to a curved screen with multiple fan screens, which can be stacked, opened and closed. Before the Han Dynasty, screens were mostly painted and painted wooden boards. Since the invention of papermaking, , mostly made of paper.

The types of screens include floor screens, bed screens, combing screens, lamp screens, etc.; and if divided by texture, there are more, such as jade screens, carved screens, glazed screens, mica screens, and plain screens. , calligraphy and painting screens, etc., to name a few.

After the Ming Dynasty, hanging screens appeared, which exceeded the practicality of screens and became pure decorations.

Compared with the previous dynasties, the types of screens in the Qing Dynasty were more complete and the production techniques became more diverse. Screens were continuously collected in the palace through donations from foreign officials, purchases by the Ministry of Internal Affairs, or recruitment of craftsmen from various places into the palace to make them. Screens in the Qing Dynasty can be roughly divided into three types: throne screens, surround screens, and insert screens. Why did the ancients put screens in their houses?

There are many traces of screens left in the vast sea of ​​historical materials, ancient books, poems and paintings.

For example, "Chang'e" by Li Shangyin, a poet of the Tang Dynasty: "The shadows of candles on the mica screen are deep, and the dawn stars are gradually sinking in the long river. Chang'e should regret stealing the elixir, and the blue sea and blue sky are in my heart every night."

< p>The poem is accompanied by a screen, which expresses Chang'e's loneliness and regret more deeply.

Another example is the long scroll "Han Xizai's Night Banquet" painted by Gu Hongzhong in the Five Dynasties, which is three meters long and divided into five sections. In the painting, a screen is used to divide the scene into five sections: listening to music, watching dancing, resting, blowing, and having a banquet.

So, why did the ancients always like to place screens in their houses?

"Screen" is also called screen door or barrier, which refers to the screen placed between doors and windows.

Most of the ancient houses were in the form of courtyards constructed of civil engineering, which were certainly not as solid and dense as modern reinforced concrete structures. Therefore, in order to block the wind, the ancients began to make furniture such as screens, and often placed the screens behind the bed or on both sides of the bed to achieve the effect of blocking the wind.

Han Liu Xi's "Shi Ming Shi Bed Zhang" said: "Screens can block the wind." That is to say, screens have the functions of wind blocking, shelter and partition.

As the dynasties changed, the development of screens was promoted. There were more types of screens and their uses gradually became wider. Some screens are made entirely of wood. This kind of wooden screen is very strong, so it can be used as a lean on or for hanging sundries.

For example, during the Wei and Jin Dynasties, there was a man named Wang Kun who was very stingy. Not only did he store the wine under his bed, but he also hung all the rice, salt, soy sauce, etc. at home on the screen beside his bed. Anyone who needed it had to go through his hands to get it.

The use of screens had begun as early as the early Western Zhou Dynasty, but at that time they were not called screens but "Di" or "Di".

For example, "Zhou Li·Tian Guan·Zhang Ci": "When Wang Da traveled to God, he set up a felt case and set up an imperial residence.

"Jia Gongyan of the Tang Dynasty. Shu: "The residence is said to use the board as a screen and decorate it with Phoenix Emperor feathers. This is called the place where the king sits. "

Also recorded in "Lunheng·Shuxu" written by Wang Chong of the Han Dynasty: "Sit in the countryside facing the south, at the back. "

The Han Dynasty's "Historical Records·Biography of Mengchangjun": "Mengchangjun sat and talked to his guests, and there was often a waiting history behind the screen, who recorded what the king said to his guests. "This shows that the term "screen" appeared in the Han Dynasty, and gave the recorders at that time the function of dividing indoor spaces and blocking sight.

During the Han Dynasty, the use of screens had become very popular. Especially those with wealth and status have screens.

For example, "Xijing Miscellanies" records: "The prince of Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty established the Sixian Courtyard to attract guests. There are six halls for the emperor in the garden, and the guest rooms are all spacious and high-rise, with beautiful screens, curtains and mattresses. "

According to Huan Kuan's "Salt and Iron Theory: Powder and Insufficiency Chapter": "One cup of salt will bring out the power of Yansu, and one screen will do the work of ten thousand people. "It took ten thousand people to make a screen, which shows how luxurious the screens in the Han Dynasty were.

At this time, the types and forms of screens were added and modified, and they also developed from the original single-fan screen to many The foldable curved screen is also called a continuous screen or a stacked screen. The screen is not only practical, but also an indispensable indoor decoration.

Before the Han Dynasty, screens were often used in conjunction with beds. Most of the wooden boards were painted and then painted, but after the invention of paper, silk and paper, most screens were made with wood as the frame and paper or silk as the surface. In addition to paintings and calligraphy, the screen decorations also included dyed valerian patterns or embroidery. , the writing content was mostly poetry.

In the Tang Dynasty, in this prosperous and peaceful age, the most beautiful things were always used to decorate the world. During this period, paper screens were popular, and painters might paint on them. Poets may inscribe or chant beautiful landscapes, flowers and birds on the screens, and some wealthy families may even paste gold foil on them. These screen decorations are always pleasing to the eye, and some screens that use carving, inlay and painting techniques are for the palace.

In addition, after the Wei and Jin Dynasties, some literati gradually favored a simple screen, which was made of white paper, completely white, with nothing painted on it, and usually had wood as the frame. It's called "plain screen". However, there are not many people who just use white paper without decorating the screen. Most of them still add poems, calligraphy and paintings.

During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, screen culture reached its peak. According to "Tianshui Bingshan Lu", there were nearly 400 screens of various sizes among the belongings of the traitor Yan Song of the Ming Dynasty.

There are also many descriptions of screens in "A Dream of Red Mansions", such as Chapter 1. Chapter 71 When Jia Mu’s eightieth birthday was celebrated, Jia Mu asked: “How many of the houses in front of me that people brought gifts to have screens around them?” Sister Feng said, “Sixteen of the houses in the country have screens around them. Twelve large and four small Kang screens. Among them, there is only one large screen with twelve leaves from the Zhen family in Jiangnan, with a red satin tapestry "bed full of wat" and a lacquered "hundred lifespan" picture on one side, which is first-class. "

In the Qianlong period of the Qing Dynasty, rich and colorful handicrafts were applied to the production of screens, which brought the screen art of the Qing Dynasty into its heyday.

The word "screen" made It feels very poetic, and it creates a quiet space that seems to be separated but not broken, and the extremely exquisite screen is made with fine craftsmanship and exquisite workmanship. The screen is decorated with various paintings, with exquisite and colorful patterns. It records customs, historical stories, landscapes, etc. It not only shows the high level of handicrafts of the ancients, but also reflects the close relationship between screens and art and culture.

After a long period of development, screens have become popular. Among the people, it has entered the homes of ordinary people and has become an important part of the interior decoration of the ancients.

Generally, large places, offices or some homes will place a door at the door. Screens are used to block evil spirits. This is also the most common method used by Feng Shui masters to resolve evil spirits at the door.

A good screen combines practicality and appreciation, and has both artistic value and decorative function. /p>

Modern screens include Chinese-style screens and fashionable screens.

Chinese-style screens give people a simple and elegant feeling. There are various patterns carved on the screen, which are made by the skill of the craftsmen. Under the hand, the flowers, birds, insects, fish, and figures are lifelike, and the Chinese-style screens are matched with Chinese-style furniture, showing an elegant and tranquil beauty.

Fashionable screens are very novel in both materials and designs, and are often matched with Western-style furniture. Presenting a sense of grandeur and magnificence.

The Feng Shui effect of screens is very significant. Nowadays, the Feng Shui status used as decoration is becoming increasingly prominent, creating an auspicious mood in the home. If the screen is placed properly, its Feng Shui significance will have a great impact on daily life and life. The promotion effect of work-based learning is immeasurable.

For modern people, screens often serve as partitions. For example, when receiving guests, from a psychological point of view, screens can separate themselves from the noisy hall. , allowing the interlocutor to have a relatively independent space. In addition to being used as an extremely practical Feng Shui mascot in Feng Shui, the screen is also an elegant decoration in life.