Lotus Pond in the Fan

        When I was a child, I used to enjoy the coolness of the yard with my grandparents on summer nights. Despite the hot weather, I still liked to lean in my grandma's arms. She would gently wave the fan to repel mosquitoes for me, while scratching my back. I always unconsciously fell asleep with the faint fragrance from the lotus pond, which was refreshing, warm, and sweet. Therefore, I seemed to feel the refreshing coolness brought by grandma's flicking fan and the fragrance of the lotus pond, whenever I missed my grandpa and grandma on a summer night. Over the years, whenever I was immersed in the creation of the "Lotus Pond Series" paintings, I deliberately wanted to combine the fond memories of the "Fan" and the "Lotus Pond", and thus produced the works in this collection.

      The lotus, also known as the hibiscus, is like a slim fairy in the water. According to Northern Song philosopher Zhou Dunyi from his article "Ode to the Lotus Flower", "Lotus comes out of silt but not stained, it is clear and not demonized." "The lotus root is as white as jade and as snow, with exquisite and transparent orifices in the middle. Its green leaves and red flowers are scattered on the water, setting each other off." The lotus has been praised by scholars and poets for its purity and elegance for thousands of years. But as far as I am concerned, only the lotus pond with "endless green lotus leaves up to the sky and special red lotus flowers in the sun" is a prosperous and lively symphony. There are many lotus ponds in southern China. In summer, there are interesting scenes of lotus picking, "the green skirts of the lotus picking girls are integrated into the lotus leaves, as if they are one color. The girls' faces are reflected among the blooming lotus flowers." The vast lotus ponds have become a paradise for people to enjoy the coolness and play. According to "Lotus of Winding Pond" by Lu Zhaolin of Tang Dynasty, "The fragrance of floating flowers wraps around the tortuous shore, and the mellow shadows of leaves cover the beautiful pond." As Zhang Wenqian from Song mentioned in his "Lotus", "The calm pool water is like jasper, with clear and abundant waves; the green leaves shake in the wind like a shaking fan." The breeze comes slowly, and the swaying lotus leaves are like a green silk fan sending bursts of lotus fragrance, dispelling the summer heat.

        The fan is a must-have item during the summer season and carries a profound cultural heritage. Fan culture was originated in ancient times. Fans have the function of sheltering the sun and guiding the wind to cool off the heat, so it is also known as "Sun Shading". The fan was not originally used as a tool to enjoy the coolness, but as a ceremonial article symbolizing the status and privileges of the ruling class. Because it is commonly found in palaces, it is also called the "Palace Fan". In the Western Han Dynasty, the symmetrical "Happy Reunion Fan" appeared which looked like the full moon, also known as "Round Fan". Ban Jieyu wrote a poem chanting, "The newly cut fine silk of Qi state is as white as frost and snow. Use it to sew a Happy Reunion Fan, like a round moon. Follow you in and out, accompany your side, shake it, and the breeze blows your face slowly." After the appearance of this kind of round fan, it has been used throughout the ages and has become the fan shape of our country's traditional style.

        According to Yuan Dynasty poet He Zhong from his poem "Lotus Flower", "Lotus grows in the winding pond, which is so beautiful against the green bamboo on the shore. Green leaves and red flowers cling to each other and cluster together, as brilliant as the colorful clouds in the sky." The beauty of the lotus pond has different characteristics during the four seasons, including the beauty of "the lotus breeze at the vast lake, the flowers bloom against the sun, and the bright red makeup." (From "Lotus Picking Song" by Zou Denglong of Song Dynasty) There is also the joy of "the bridge paddling the water like cutting the lotus and the westerly wind on both sides of the strait at the hazy sunset." (From "Lotus" by Bai Yuchan of Song Dynasty) I draw the lotus pond on the fans, hoping to dispel the summer heat with the freshness of the pond. The lotus wind sends fragrance, the pool is full of blue waves, the sunset glows brightly, and the spirit birds are flying. The lotus pond scenes are vivid on the paper, while shaking round fans, with the gusty cool wind and the fragrance of lotus. It is also like walking in the lotus pond and the summer heat is gradually disappearing. The trickle of Eastern and Western cultures turns the beauty and moisture of southern China's summer into a flowing color on the fan. It gives people a pure and fresh feeling, with the lotus wind flowing into the fan and dancing in the breeze.

        When looking at these paintings, it is inevitable to recall the deep thoughts of my grandparents. I would like to dedicate this book to my grandparents in heaven.