Eating idol’s poems: inside the wild, ancient history of Chinese fan culture

China’s fandom culture predates today’s pop idols and live-streaming celebrities by millennia.In ancient times, fame was cultivated in the streets, restaurants, and poetry circles, where beauty and talent transformed poets and performers into objects of public fascination.One of China’s earliest heartthrobs was Pan Yue, a writer from the Western Jin dynasty (266–316), better known by his nickname, Pan An.Celebrated in the book, A New Account of the Tales of the World, for his striking good looks and refined demeanour, Pan became a cultural epitome of male beauty in Chinese society.One of China’s earliest heartthrobs was writer Pan Yue, above, also known as Pan An, whose unwavering devotion to his wife further enhanced his romantic image. Photo: BaiduLegend has it that when he rode through the streets of Luoyang, female admirers would surround his carriage, showering him with fruit until it overflowed.His beauty was so renowned that, when he appeared alongside another handsome scholar, Xiahou Zhan, the pair were likened to two exquisite pieces of jade.Pan’s allure extended beyond mere appearance.As a gifted writer with a delicate, melancholic style, he became an exceptional male poet recognised for his emotional depth.His unwavering devotion to his wife further enhanced his romantic image.Following her death, he composed a series of mourning poems that are now considered landmark works in Chinese elegiac poetry, famously vowing never to remarry.By the Tang Dynasty (618–907), the golden age of China’s feudal society, celebrity culture had evolved beyond handsome scholars.By the Tang Dynasty (618—907), celebrity culture evolved beyond handsome scholars, captivating the public with talents like singers, dancers, musicians, poets, and celebrated intellectuals who cultivated dedicated followings. Photo: BaiduIn the empire’s vibrant cities, singers, dancers, musicians, poets and celebrated intellectuals cultivated dedicated followings.Further ReadingDu Fu, later revered as China’s “Sage of Poetry,” inspired a profoundly literary type of devotion.Admired for his grave, compassionate verse and his concern for ordinary people, he attracted followers who penned poems in his honour and journeyed to sites linked to his life.An extreme example of ancient fandom involves the poet Zhang Ji.According to Yunxian Sanlu, a collection of unusual stories, Zhang admired Du so intensely that he burned copies of his poems, mixed the ashes with honey, and ingested them, believing this ritual would enable him to absorb the master’s genius.Bai Juyi, one of the period’s most renowned poets, also described wealthy young men showering their favourite performers with silk gifts – an early form of paid fandom.Li Shishi, the celebrated courtesan of the Song dynasty (960–1279), epitomised a modern entertainment celebrity.Li Shishi, above, the renowned courtesan of the Song dynasty (960—1279), epitomised a modern entertainment celebrity. Photo: BaiduRenowned for her beauty, singing, and mastery of poetry, she attracted admirers from the highest echelons of society, including scholars, officials, and even Emperor Huizong himself.Reportedly the orphaned daughter of a dye-house owner, Li was adopted by a courtesan and meticulously trained in music, calligraphy, painting, dance and elite etiquette.She later performed in Fanlou, one of the capital’s most prestigious entertainment halls, where only the most sought-after courtesans could achieve recognition.Poets celebrated Li in verse; Zhang Xian described her lips as “a tiny red dot, smaller than a flower bud,” while Yan Jidao asserted that no flower in the city could rival her beauty.Her admirers often exhibited fierce competition.Beyond mere obsession, ancient Chinese fan culture was defined by a profound sense of romance, poetic beauty, and radical devotion. Photo: BaiduLi was said to have been particularly close to the poet Zhou Bangyan, whose lyrics she frequently performed.One famous legend claims that when Emperor Huizong unexpectedly visited Li, Zhou hid beneath her bed and overheard the emperor’s declaration of affection.Zhou later transformed this episode into the lyric “Youthful Journey,” which Li unwittingly sang before the emperor.Feeling humiliated, Emperor Huizong reportedly found a pretext to demote Zhou and exile him from the capital.Ancient China also featured its own forms of fandom imitation.During the Western Han dynasty (202 BC–9 AD), the diplomat Sima Xiangru, inspired by the Warring States statesman Lin Xiangru, adopted “Xiangru” as part of his own name.Centuries later, Tang poet Li Bai wrote of donning the same style of clogs associated with his idol, the poet and traveller Xie Lingyun.Today, while the platforms have evolved, the impulse behind fan culture remains strikingly familiar.In recent years, Chinese authorities have sought to curb the excesses of fan culture, targeting online abuse, paid rankings, and the exploitation of minors who are encouraged to spend heavily in support of celebrities. Photo by Kevin Frayer/Getty ImagesA 2019 study published in Media Observer notes that, at its core, fandom still revolves around emotional investment, identity formation, consumption, and a sense of collective belonging.Fans now express their devotion through social media, live-streaming, merchandise and concerts.However, the intensity of this devotion has prompted official concern.In recent years, Chinese authorities have sought to curb the excesses of fan culture, targeting online abuse, paid rankings, and the exploitation of minors who are encouraged to spend heavily in support of celebrities.