The categories of hand fans

Hand Fan is divided into two general categories:

1. flat fan (can not be folded) circular fan, palm-leaf fan, straw fans, feather fan, etc.
2. folding fan (can be freely opened) silk folding fan,paper folding fan, Sandalwood fan, etc.

Circular fan is also called "Court fan" or "Wan Shan." It is a round fan with handle. Before Song dynasty people called fan,which was round fan. Circular fan was invented by Chinese,and introduced to Japan. Circular fan is the early fan,but in China it always booms. In the boudoirs of young ladies, this fan is generally small, in addition to practical value, as well as decorative value. It is the ready-made canvas, a fan is a picture.If the handle is extended, it has more decorative effect, and becomes a fan of emperor’cortege. Most of the ancient silk Court fans were exquisite art. The basic shape of the silk court fan is round, but there are also many other shapes, such as hexagonal, octagonal, melon -shaped melon, banana leaf,and the leaf of phoenix tree, etc., There are many embroidered flowers, birds, fish and insects, landscapes, figures, and buddha on the fans.

Palm-leaf fan is widely used in China.It’s made of leaf of livistona chinensis. Livistona chinensis has upright branches, the leaves are round, look very beautiful. Palm leaves by cutting, drying, baking, knitting, sewing, embroidery,other processes can be made into palm baskets, palm pads, palm packages and palm-leaf fan.According to diverse technics and shapes, we divide palm-leaf fan into heart-shaped fan, glass fan, painted fan,embroidery fan, bamboo sheath fans etc. hundreds of varieties.

Feather fan is knitted with the feathers of peacocks, cranes, eagles, geeses, pheasants and other birds, it has a handle. It can not only introduces cool, decorate, and be used in dance,it is also the ancient Chinese court etiquette displays. Most of feather fan have 3 or 4 goose feathers, the head is pointed,the end is round and the whole shape likes a peach. Some handles are wooden, and some are goose feathers. Feather fan is light, the wind is gentle. The handle of peacock feather fan is ivory, the color is rich and beautiful, it is often used as dancing props. The characters of the feature fan are,feather is thin and flat, the wind is soft light, works is fine, style is beautiful, it is particularly suitable for the elderly, weak patients and pregnant women.

Some straw Fans are knitted into the shapes of pomegranate, peacock’s tail,it stretches on all sides.It’s united with straws, and known as the "series fan." Some straw fans are knitted with meshes,there is a cloth in the middle of fan,to make the mesches stand out by contrast,this fan is called "Zhahua fan." This fan is light, its pattern is stereoscopic.In the past it is bride’s dowry and gift.

Folding fan originated from Japan.In Northern Song dynasty, the folding fan as a tribute were introduced into China, but not yet widely used, to Ming and Qing dynasty became quite prosperous.It is easy to carry, can be opened and closed ,so it were popular among scholars. The handle are made of ivory, tortoiseshell, sandalwood and other precious materials,some skillful craftsmen carve on the handles,they become a valuable works of art.In Song dynasty people began to draw or write poems on the fans.The painting and calligraphy have wide range of topics, diversiform styles, though the fans are small, they can show us birds, fish, landscapes, characters, stories.It’s a special variety in chinese painting art.

Sandalwood fan is made of sandalwood, it’s often used by women, also known as “gentler fan”. Sandalwood, is also known as Zhan Tan, there is white sandalwood and red sandalwood,which have white and purple leathers, wood is very hard. The sandalwood fan has natural scent.People lightly shake the fan, can smell the fragrance in the air. It is saved many years, and still has fragrance.In summer people put it into the suitcase, to make resistant to damage by moths. The art of painting is the focus of sandalwood fans, the subject matters focus on flowers, birds and ladies. It is small and exquisite, gaudiness, refinement and full of decorative interest, endeared to women.