Artisan Li Jing graces Chinese traditional cut silk circular fan

In 2016, super models and film stars offered some stunning fashion shots with the round fans in their hands.

Liu Wen. Photo courtesy: Bazaar

Dressed in western gown in a British castle, Chinese supermodel Liu Wen still managed to convey the charm and grace of an oriental woman holding a delicate fan.

Fan Bingbing, who played in many costume dramas, also used the round fan to connect the classical and the modern fashion.

Fan Bingbing. Photo courtesy: Bazaar

The round fans are from the Leisure Cottage Round Fan Studio in Suzhou, east China. The studio is located inside the deep lanes, with a classical garden just like the ones in ancient poems and paintings. Li Jing is the owner of the studio. Although graduated from a design school, he wasn't a professional round fan craftsman at the beginning. 

Round fans, also called circular fans, were first seen in the dynasty of Han, and became important belongings for women in the palace during the Tang and Song dynasties. Painters and poets liked to leave their works on the fans, turning them into pieces of art. Women tended to hide their faces behind the fans to show their elegance. Sometimes they would use the fans to imply the solitary life in the royal palace. All these infused the round fans with a sense of feminine grace and sorrow.

Li Jing. /By CGTN

Li got to know about the round fans through traditional operas. He found them very appealing as props on stage. Later he began to collect antiques, including pieces of round fans. "Round fan was actually one of the earliest fans in China. In the poems and literature works even before the dynasty of Ming, the 'fans' all referred to round fans. It has such a long history," explains Li.

CGTN Photo

"I got some frames and handles from the antique markets. They had very beautiful carvings, which attracted me so much. I took them to Suzhou, hoping to find some craftsmen to restore them." 

To his surprise, there wasn't any craftsman in the city who was able to restore the k'o-ssu fans. As a dedicated collector who always wanted to have control, Li decided to do it himself. Bringing all his savings, plus 100 thousand yuan given by his father and 50 thousand lent by friends, he came to Suzhou and established the studio. He went to every corner of the counties around on foot, searching for the craftsmen who still knew the k'o-ssu technique.

CGTN Photo

K'o-ssu fans require very sophisticated techniques. In ancient times, they were exclusive to the royal families. An old craftsman said: "K'o-ssu was as valuable as gold. If you used the wrong color here, you'll have to dismantle it and do it all over again."

It may take several craftsmen to finish a round fan inlaid with gold and silver threads. However, most of the craftsmen are in their sixties or seventies. They don't have successors. "Young people wouldn't learn it," says Li, "although I want to promote the traditional things so that people can enjoy it."

CGTN Photo

Li believes that the most attractive part in the round fans is the classical aesthetics: "The Chinese values inner spirits more than the figures. When we make a butterfly, it doesn't have to be exactly the same as a real one. How do we make it as beautiful, but not limited to the real thing? We'd have to put our own imagination and preference in it. That's why the traditional art is fascinating."

CGTN Photo

CGTN Photo

For Li, making fans is like communicating with the ancient people. The enjoyable hobby, however, has to meet the reality: "As the craftsmen, we hope that more people could appreciate its beauty and be willing to spend money on it. The art can be passed on, but not merely by preaching the love for it."

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — José Ramírez had a pair of two-run singles and reached base five times as the Cleveland Guardians beat Texas 7-0 on Monday night and sent the Rangers to their first four-game losing streak of the season.

“He’s pretty fun to watch,” first-year Guardians manager Stephen Vogt said of Ramírez. “Hosey’s just remarkable, he really is. Nothing that he does surprises me. He’s always looking to win.”

Five Cleveland pitchers combined for the four-hit shutout of the defending World Series champions. The AL Central-leading Guardians followed Sunday’s 7-0 win over the Chicago White Sox for their first consecutive shutouts since August 5-6, 2020.

Nick Sandin followed Cleveland starter Tanner Bibee, coming into a scoreless game in the sixth inning with the bases loaded and one out. He struck out Adolis García, Texas’ leader in home runs and RBI, and retired Josh Smith on a broken-bat ground out to second base.

Sandin said of facing García: “Just knowing who’s coming to the plate and having a good plan of attack, kind of getting ahead and then expand it (the strike zone) from there.”

Ramírez drove in two runs with singles in the eighth and ninth innings. He walked twice and also reached on a fielding error by Corey Seager in the first inning.

Brayan Rocchio, Cleveland’s No. 9 batter, ended a scoreless struggle in the eighth inning when he hit a 90-mph cut fastball into shallow center field. Estevan Florial, who led off the inning with a double to right field over García, scored when Leody Taveras’ throw to the plate bounced off the third-base side of the mound and into foul territory between home and third.

Andrés Giménez also had an RBI single in Cleveland’s three-run ninth.

Bibee allowed three hits over 5 1/3 innings, retiring Texas’ first 11 batters before Nathaniel Lowe’s two-out infield single in the fourth inning. Sandin, Hunter Gaddis (2-1), Tim Herrin and Emmanuel Clase pitched the final 3 2/3 innings for Cleveland.

Texas’ Michael Lorenzen allowed one hit over seven innings, pitching no-hit ball for 5 1/3 innings, while striking out four and walking four. José Leclerc (3-2) followed Lorenzen and allowed three runs on two hits and one walk.

It was the first loss in the 64-year history of the Washington-Texas franchise when its starter allowed no runs and no more than one hit through seven innings.

The Rangers, leading the American League with 205 runs entering Monday’s games, have scored six total runs in their four losses.

“We need somebody to come through here,” Texas manager Bruce Bochy said. “We’re too good not to come out of it.”

García is 1 for his last 17 with nine strikeouts.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Guardians: RHP Gavin Williams (elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen on Tuesday.

Rangers: OF Evan Carter (lower back stiffness) had an MRI on Monday and sat out a third consecutive game. … RHP Nathan Eovaldi (right groin strain) is throwing off flat ground and could be throwing off a mound this weekend.

UP NEXT

Guardians RHP Ben Lively (1-2, 2.63 ERA) comes off his poorest start of the season, allowing three runs in 5 2/3 innings on eight hits and three walks in a loss to the Chicago White Sox. Rangers RHP Jack Leiter (0-0, 12.91) will make his third spot start up from Triple-A Round Rock, his first at home, with Texas’ starting rotation depleted by injuries.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Texas Rangers' Andrew Knizner, center, blows a gum bubble in the dugout during the first inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Monday, May 13, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt looks into the dugout during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Monday, May 13, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

Cleveland Guardians' Brayan Rocchio (4) scores on a two-run single by José Ramírez during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Monday, May 13, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. Guardians' Tyler Freeman also scored on the hit. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

Cleveland Guardians' Brayan Rocchio, left, celebrates with Josh Naylor (22) after scoring on a two-run single by José Ramírez during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Monday, May 13, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. Guardians' Tyler Freeman also scored on the hit. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

Cleveland Guardians right fielder Will Brennan fields a single hit by Texas Rangers' Travis Jankowski during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 13, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee (28) fields a ground ball and throws out Texas Rangers' Jonah Heim at first base during the fifth inning of a baseball game Monday, May 13, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen delivers during the second inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Monday, May 13, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

Cleveland Guardians starting pitcher Tanner Bibee delivers during the second inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Monday, May 13, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

Texas Rangers' Travis Jankowski, center, swings at but misses a pitch from Cleveland Guardians starter Tanner Bibee during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 13, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)

Cleveland Guardians' José Ramírez signals to the umpire after stealing second base during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Texas Rangers, Monday, May 13, 2024, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Gareth Patterson)