Reflections | A history of Chinese fans and how they kept people cool in summer before electricity
During the worst of the recent heatwave in Europe, when temperatures in Prague soared to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) and even the nights refused to cool below 30, someone kindly lent us an electric fan. It did not transform our temporary accommodation in the Czech capital into a cool refuge, but it made the oppressive heat far more bearable.
Long before electric fans and air conditioning, the hand fan had already been a faithful companion in Chinese life. For more than 3,000 years, it not only brought relief from the summer heat but also acquired a remarkable variety of forms, each with its own purpose and place in society.
The oldest was the ceremonial screen fan, which appeared during the Shang (1600BC-1046BC) and Zhou (1046BC-256BC) dynasties. Mounted on a long handle and fashioned from feathers, silk or woven materials, it accompanied rulers and senior officials during court ceremonies and state processions. These imposing fans were less about cooling their owners than reminding everyone else who was in charge. Variations remained part of imperial ritual until the fall of the Qing dynasty in 1912.
For those seeking genuine relief from the heat, the round fan proved a more practical option. Popular from the Han period (206BC-AD220) onwards, it was usually made by stretching silk over a circular bamboo frame. It became especially associated with women of the imperial court, while its broad surface provided artists and calligraphers with a compact canvas.
Over time, the round fan came to symbolise elegance and refinement, appearing frequently in Chinese paintings and poetry.
At the other end of the social spectrum was the humble palm-leaf fan. Woven from palm leaves or other pliable plant fibres, it was cheap, durable and found in countless households. It cooled bodies, fanned cooking fires, shooed away insects and accompanied farmers through long days in the fields.