PREFACE

The shop signs of different parts of China vary according to the customs of the people; therefore, the signs of an article in Peiping oftentimes differ from this in Canton,also is this true of other cities; but as a rule, these signs have the designs or the pictures of the articles for sale and, in general, they are artistically executed and harmoniously coloured. But in some cases the articles for sale cannot be represented by pictures, then, they take these signs which have been used from time immemorial; for exemple, the signs for such a restaurant. where wines can be had, bear or has the same sign as it  did centuries ago and poets have used the term in their verses, particularly in the composition of Li Tai-po,the famous poet of the Tang Dynasty. He often used this expression in his favourite productions.This wine flag(or 酒旗) can be recognized from a great distance when one wants to satisfy his thirst, he will not have to strain his optic nerves to get what he wants; they are as conspicuous as the barber poles in the Western Countries. The only explanation that I can give for the existence of these pictorial signs is that in the former times the percentage of iliteracy among the people was very low. I am sure with the establishment of the new public school system that most of the Chinese people can read the written language of the country. Therefore it is plain to see that these signs will gradually disappear as they are no longer necesary. Eventually they will become nothing but relics of the ancient Chinese Customs. So it is very advisable for those who are interested in things Chinese to add a copy of this album to their collection in Orientalia.

By H. K. Fung, Ph. D.

October first 1931.

购买须知：揭掉磁贴上的保护膜， 图案更清晰

幌子也叫望子、帷幔，又名 “市招”或者“招幌”。在老北京，各行各业的门前悬挂或放置自家各具特色的幌子。其式样、色彩和制作材料，不仅有布幌，还有木头或金属类制成的。其或简单或复杂的代表了这一行业的特点。它们有的直观，一目了然；有的一眼难以辨别，但稍微一想，便豁然开朗。幌子不只是一个行业的代表，更是老北京文化的一种体现。

现如今，整齐划一的店铺设计，虽说多了些商业的气息，但却感觉少了些精气神儿。真正的老北京，看看那时的店铺门前的“装潢”。 您不觉得很有味道吗？

店铺信息：

地址：北京市西城区杨梅竹斜街26号乾坤空间

邮编：100051

联系人：贾老师

电话：18611609968