The Earliest Fans

The earliest fans can be traced back to ancient China, where they already existed thousands of years ago during the Shang and Zhou dynasties.

The earliest fans were usually made of plant materials, such as grass leaves, bamboo, and grape vines. These materials were easily available and were lightweight and soft, making them ideal for use in making fans. Most of the earliest fans consisted of one or more wide, long blades covered with fibrous veins. The close arrangement of the veins adds to the toughness of the fan and also serves to strengthen the structure of the blades. The blades and veins are usually sewn together with thread or cane to form a single unit.

The earliest fans were usually used hand-held. When a person fanned with their hands, the unfolding and closing of the fan blades could create airflow, giving a cooling sensation. Ancient Chinese people used fans on hot summer days to effectively lower their body temperature and relieve the feeling of heat. The earliest fans were often decorated and carved to add to their beauty and artistic value. These decorations usually featured natural plant textures, animal patterns or abstract geometric shapes, creating exquisite patterns and motifs on the fan.

A brief introduction to common types of fans:

1, folding fan: a folding fan is a fan that can be folded up for easy carrying. It usually consists of multiple blades that can be folded inward to form a compact shape. Folding fans are popular in Japan, China and Spain.

2, Deerskin Fan: Deerskin fan is a kind of fan made of deerskin. It has a soft texture and unique touch and is often used to make high-grade fans. Deerskin fans are more common in places like Japan and Korea.

3, Paper Fan: A paper fan is a fan made of paper. It can be made of single or multiple layers of paper stacked on top of each other and can be beautifully painted with designs or text. Paper fans are widely used in China, Japan and Korea.

4, Folding Drawer Fan: A folding drawer fan is a type of fan that consists of multiple foldable layers of fan sheets. This fan can be unfolded and folded like origami to form a complex folded structure. Folding drawer fans are very popular in China.

5. Feather Fan: A feather fan is a type of fan made of feathers. Feather fans usually have an ornate appearance and are used to add to the tunes of a play or performance. It is often used in occasions such as dances, plays and fashion shows.