Handscroll

Handscroll
Section of a 13th century handscroll painting, Early Autumn by Song dynasty painter Qian Xuan.
Chinese手捲
Transcriptions
Standard Mandarin
Hanyu Pinyinshǒujuàn

The handscroll is a long, narrow, horizontal scroll format in East Asia used for calligraphy or paintings. A handscroll usually measures up to several meters in length and around 25–40 cm in height. Handscrolls are generally viewed starting from the right end. This kind of scroll is intended to be read or viewed flat on a table, in sections. The format thus allows for the depiction of a continuous narrative or journey.

The traditional alternative format in East Asian paintings is the vertical hanging scroll, which is rarely as long.

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