What is Chinese fan?

A hand-held fan is a rigid or folding device used throughout the world since ancient times for cooling, air circulation, or ceremony and as a sartorial accessory. The Chinese character for “fan” (扇) is etymologically derived from a picture of feathers under a roof.

What is the Chinese fan called?

Shan is the general term for all Chinese fans, however, China has many varieties of fans, each with their own name. The earliest written reference to a fan in China is in AD 121 where reference was made to a large leafed plant which was used as a fan.

What does the Chinese fan mean?

It wasn't until the Zhou Dynasty, more than 2,000 years ago, that people started using folding fans to cool down. The “feather fan” became popular among the aristocracy because it was extremely expensive to produce. Made of bird feathers, it was widely recognized as the symbol of wealth, authority, and wisdom.

What are Chinese fans made from?

For thousands of years, the Chinese people never stopped innovating fan design and manufacturing, adopting different materials such as bamboo, palm tree leaves, wood, paper, feather, silk, bone, and sandalwood, and made fans of various shapes, such as circular, square, oval, flower petals, or hexagonal shapes.

Why was the Chinese fan invented?

The history of Chinese fan can be dated to over 3,000 years ago, around the Shang Dynasty (C. 16th-11th BC). The first type of fan, known as Shanhan, was tied to a horse-drawn carriage to shut out the strong sunshine and shelter the passengers from the rainfall. The Shanhan was a bit like today's umbrella.

Chinese fan (Hello China #88)

What do fans symbolize?

Perhaps the most enduring role of the handheld fan is as the symbol of wealth or royalty, which stretches as far back as the ancient civilizations of Egypt and Babylon and continues even to this day. In western culture, fans were commonly associated with the sophistication of the upper classes.

How do you make a traditional Chinese fan?

What are fans made of?

A fan consists of a rotating arrangement of vanes or blades, generally made of wood, plastic, or metal, which act on the air. The rotating assembly of blades and hub is known as an impeller, rotor, or runner. Usually, it is contained within some form of housing, or case.

Why are Japanese fans so important?

The main use of fans is to create a cooling breeze for the user, but in Japan it goes beyond the obvious. Fans were once thought to keep away evil, were used in religious ceremonies and to provide shade for royalty. Holding a fan was also considered restorative to the soul. Fans are also used as a social barometer.

Where should I place my feng shui fan?

The fan should be mounted high in the ceiling. If the room is big enough, try to avoid hanging it directly above the bed. Just move it towards the edge of the bed.

What does a fan tattoo mean?

The fan symbol represents good luck and generosity.

Can a fan be used as a weapon?

The commander would raise or lower his fan and point in different ways to issue commands to the soldiers, which would then be passed on by other forms of visible and audible signalling. War fans could also be used as weapons. The art of fighting with war fans is tessenjutsu.

What are silk fans?

They are hand made and hand painted. These fans are good for cooling purpose and great for party like weddings. Silk fans become trendy as focal point of the table or charming accessories for bride maids. They make the sweet, elegant gifts to all women.

Do Japanese use hand fan?

Even today, geisha and maiko use folding fans in their fan dances as well. Japanese fans are made of paper on a bamboo frame, usually with a design painted on them. In addition to folding fans (ōgi), the non-bending fans (uchiwa) are popular and commonplace. The fan is primarily used for fanning oneself in hot weather.

Why do Japanese use hand fans?

Japanese hand fans were originally used by the Samurai class and Japanese aristocrats. They were initially used as a form of material to write on to communicate messages, as an instructive tool to educate, a symbol of status, and even as a weapon.

What are the two types of fans?

Which fan material is best?

Metal blade ceiling fans are among the most durable. They cut through the air with little resistance, providing strong airflow.

What is Japanese fan?

Uchiwa: Also known as a fixed fan, these fans are typically circular with a resemblence to the silhouette of a ping pong bat. Some other variations of the uchiwa are palm-leaf shaped. In Japan, you'll often see these styles of fan used during festivals, or by Buddhist monks as ceremonial fans.

Where did Chinese fan dancing originated?

Fan Dance has been an expressive art form in China for approximately 3000 years. The dance originated from Chaoxian, (Chinese:朝鲜; pinyin: cháo xiǎn) a minority group, which is one of the 56 ethnic groups in China.

Who created fans?

The first electric fan was created by Dr. Schuyler Skaats Wheeler in 1886. It was a small, two-blade personal desk fan that was DC powered. Made of brass and loved by all who worked inside in the summer, the fan was modern, effective, and dangerous as there was no cage surrounding the blades.

What is the fan language?

The language of the fan was a vital aspect of a Georgian lady's expression. However, regardless of how fashionable your fan was, you would not be considered elegant unless you held it in the right way. It was believed that even the plainest woman could become attractive if she used her fan graciously.