Screens are mainly divided into two categories: seat screen and folding screen: seat screen is a screen with a base that cannot be folded. Some people call it site screen, others call it screen insertion. There are single fans, double fans and three fans. Among them, the smaller seat screen is placed in front of the bed and above the desk; Used for decoration; A folding screen is a folding screen, also called a screen enclosure, with six, eight or twelve screens. After continuous development and evolution, there are more and more types of screens, including floor screen, bed screen, comb screen, light screen and so on. And according to the texture, there are more, jade carving screen, carved screen, glass screen, mica screen, silk screen, painting screen and so on.

During the Han and Tang dynasties, the use of screens was very common. Its form has also increased from the previous generation, from the original single screen to a multi-screen curved screen, which can be folded and opened. Before the Han dynasty, screens were mostly painted on wooden boards, but since the invention of papermaking, they were mostly paper paste.

Hanging screens appeared after the Ming Dynasty, which exceeded the practicality of screens and became pure decorations.

In Qing dynasty, the types of screens were more complete and the production methods were more diverse. Through the investment of foreign officials, the procurement of the Ministry of Internal Affairs or the recruitment of outstanding craftsmen from all over the country to make them in the palace, screens are constantly gathered in the palace. Screens in Qing dynasty can be roughly divided into three types: throne screen, enclosure screen and inset screen.