ON ROLES AND FUNCTIONS OF SCREEN

This paper aims to make clear roles and functions of screens in the novel 'JIN PING MEP'. As a result, next six points become clear 1) A see een in its origin has a function as a barrier or a shield to protect a human body. However, screens are generally considered furniture in these days. 2) In the novel there are screens called 'mo', 'zhartg', 'man bi'. In general 'man ping' is made of cloth and considered 'partition'. 3) Also it is called 'zoo pin feng (screen)', but different from Japanese style screen 'man ping' presented from Japan in the Ming period. 4) Screens are classified into these four ones following their forms: 'small table screen(xian zoo ping feng)', 'screen(zue ping feng)', 'folding screen(wei ping)', 'hanging screen(diao ping)'. 5) Screens are regarded as precious handcrafts, so it is considered that possessing lots of them means a status symbol and wealth of a family. 6) Each place is arranged and characterized by forms, materials, designs of screens, according to social status, class and lifestyle. Therefore there is a social standard in using screens.