| The first Chinese fans were nothing more than | | | | did not fold like modern ones do. The folding |
| bird feathers or large leaves. Tradition holds that | | | | half-moon fan was brought to China in the 11th |
| King Wu of the Zhou Dynasty in the 11th century | | | | century A.D. from Japan. Today Chinese fans are |
| B.C. invented the Chinese hand-held fan, and the | | | | still made from the traditional bamboo and silk |
| oldest known Chinese hand held fan was found in | | | | materials, and also of paper, wood, bone, palm |
| China in 1982 and is approximately 2,300 years | | | | tree leaves and other materials. |
| old. The earliest half-moon fans were constructed | | | | During the 5th century A.D. the moon fan, or |
| of silk wrapped around bamboo spokes that were | | | | round fan became very popular. Young ladies, |
| arranged in a semi-circle. Fans were used only by | | | | especially those inside the imperial palace were |
| the members of the royal court for many | | | | very fond of these. These round fans later took |
| centuries, only becoming available to the general | | | | on other shapes also, such as oval. The ancient |
| public during the Han Dynasty, 206 B.C. - 220 A.D. | | | | Chinese were a very artistic culture. Everyday |
| By the time of the Jin Dynasty, 317-420 A.D., so | | | | items such as fans were valued not only for their |
| many fans were being made that the emperor | | | | functionality, but by their beauty. Fan painting and |
| halted the use of silk in their manufacture because | | | | decoration are but one example of this. There has |
| silk producers could not keep up. | | | | been a revival of the ancient art form of the |
| While the Chinese are credited with the invention | | | | Chinese Hand Held Fan. Thy are things of beauty |
| of the half-moon hand held fan, these first fans | | | | that can add to the decor of any home. |