Chinese fans made by hands

The first fan probably came into being quite accidentally: a primitive man, irritated by flies and mosquitoes, might have picked a big leaf off some nearby plant and fanned the annoying pests away. Much to his delight, he found this fly-driver could also bring him coolness. This lucky man, hence, became the inventor of this popular accessory.

In ancient China, fans, apart from the simple purpose of swatting pests and keeping cool, have acquired many other kinds of significance. Over 3,000 years ago, imperial families adopted long-shafted fans made of birds' feathers for court performances and ceremonies. These fans usually resembled the gorgeously colorful tail of mythical phoenixes.

The Han Dynasty (206 B.C. - A.D. 220) enjoyed an abundance of clothing materials, and this was when silk and satin fans were introduced. To show their talents, scholars and artists began to write poems or paint on surfaces of fans. Soon, fans acquired considerable social significance and became very popular among the elite and the learned.

Around 1,000 years ago, folding fans were introduced into China from Japan and Korea. They were usually made with fine paper mounted on bamboo strips. The scholars, to their delight, found them more suitable for writing or painting. Thanks to their portability, these fans are still widely used in China, especially during travel in the sweltering summer.

The fan family is widely varied. Sandalwood fans have become a favorite with ladies because of their pleasant fragrance. Made entirely of wood, sandalwood fans are beautifully shaped and carved with delicate designs. Actually, these fans serve more of an ornamental purpose rather than a practical one, by greatly enhancing the elegance and charm of a lady.

In traditional Chinese operas, fans are always indispensable props. Waving their fans in different ways, characters can reveal their inner character in different situations.