Another example is the long scroll Han Xizai's Night Banquet painted by Gu in the Five Dynasties, which is three meters long and divided into five sections. In the painting, the screen is used to divide the picture into five sections: listening to music, watching dance, resting, blowing and feasting. So, why did the ancients always like to put screens in the house?
"Screen", also known as screen door or barrier, refers to the screen between doors and windows. Most of the ancient houses were courtyards of civil buildings, but they were certainly not as solid and dense as the houses with modern reinforced concrete structures. Therefore, in order to keep out the wind, the ancients began to make screens into furniture, and placed screens behind the bed or on both sides of the bed to achieve the effect of keeping out the wind. Han Liuxi's Interpretation of Bed Names says: "Screen, words can keep out the wind." In other words, the screen has the functions of wind protection, shielding and compartment separation.
With the overlapping of dynasties, the development of screens has been promoted, and the types of screens have become more and more extensive. Some screens are made of wood. This kind of wooden screen is very strong and can be used to lean on or hang sundries. For example, in Wei and Jin Dynasties, there was a man named Wang Kun, who was very stingy. He not only hid the wine under the bed, but also hung all the rice, salt and soy sauce at home on the screen beside the bed. Anyone who needs it must get it through his hand.
The use of screens began as early as the early Western Zhou Dynasty, but they were not called screens at that time, but called "houses" or "walls". For example, "Tian Ji": "Wang Da traveled to the divine world, so he opened a case and set up an imperial court." "Gong Yanshu" by Jia in Tang Dynasty: "The mansion is said to be decorated with phoenix feathers on the screen. This is where the king sits. " Also, Wang Hanchong uploaded Lun Heng Xu Shu: "Sit in Nanxiang, sit in the back." "History of Han Dynasty Historical Records Biography of Meng Changjun": "Meng Changjun waits on the guest to sit in the language, but there is often a history behind the screen, and the Lord remembers the gentleman and the guest language." It shows that the name "screen" appeared in the Han Dynasty, which made the recorder at that time have the functions of separating indoor space and blocking the line of sight.
In the Han dynasty, the use of screens was very common, especially for wealthy and prestigious families. For example, "Miscellanies of Xijing" uploaded: "The Prince of Chinese Emperor built Sixian Courtyard to attract guests. There are six halls in the garden, and the rooms are all spacious in Gao Xuan, with beautiful screens and curtains. " According to Huan Kuan's "On Salt and Iron", "A cup of tea uses the power of a hundred people, and a screen is the work of ten thousand people." A screen is made with the strength of ten thousand people, and the luxury of the screen in Han Dynasty can be seen from this. At this time, the types and forms of screens have changed, from the original single screen to a curved screen composed of multiple screens, which can be folded, also known as joint screen or folding screen. Screen is often used in combination with bed, which is not only practical, but also an indispensable interior decoration.
Before the Han Dynasty, most screens were painted on wooden boards, but after the invention of paper, silk and paper, screens were mostly framed by wood, and then covered with paper or silk. In addition to painting and calligraphy, there are patterns or embroidery decorations on the screen, and most of the writing content is poetry. In the Tang Dynasty, in this prosperous era, the world was always decorated with the most beautiful things. During this period, paper screens became very popular. Painters painted beautiful landscapes, flowers and birds on them, poets inscribed screens and chanted screens on them, and even some wealthy families put gold foil on them. These screen decorative paintings are always pleasing to the eye. There are also screens of carving, inlaying and painting techniques used by the court.
In addition, after the Wei and Jin Dynasties, some literati gradually liked the simple screen. This kind of screen is made of white paper, all white, and nothing is drawn. It is usually made of wood, so it is called "plain screen". However, there are not many people who simply use white paper to decorate the screen, and most of them will be accompanied by poems, books and paintings.
During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, film and television culture reached its peak. According to Tianshui Iceberg Record, there were nearly 400 large and small screens in the property of Yan Song, a traitor in the Ming Dynasty. The description of the screen in A Dream of Red Mansions is also written in ink. For example, on Jia Mu's 70th birthday, Jia Mu asked, "How many of these people who gave gifts a few days ago have screens?" Feng Dao: "* * * Sixteen have screens, twelve are big and four are small. Among them, there are only 12 large-screen fans in Zhen Shi, south of the Yangtze River, with a red silk' full bed' and a clay gold' centennial picture', which is first-class. " During the Qianlong period of Qing dynasty, colorful handicraft techniques were applied to screen making, which made the screen art in Qing dynasty enter its heyday.
The word "screen" makes people feel very poetic. It creates a quiet space that seems to be separated and disconnected. The extremely exquisite screen is exquisitely made, and the screen is decorated with all kinds of colorful paintings, with exquisite patterns and colorful colors. It records customs, historical stories, landscapes, etc. It not only presents the high-level craftsmanship of the ancients, but also reflects the close relationship between pictures and art and culture.