A moon-shaped fan that sways in the breeze — the round fan (tuan shan) has traveled through history, from imperial regalia to the refined world of literati, from everyday life accents to today’s cultural revival as a treasured intangible heritage.
Origins and a Three-Thousand-Year Evolution
The round fan — also called wan shan, hehuan shan, or gong shan — is named for its circular, moon-like shape. This roundness resonates deeply with Chinese cultural ideals of completeness, harmony and reunion. More than a cooling tool, the tuan shan embodies layered social, artistic and ritual meanings.
Historical records trace fan usage back to very early dynasties. Legendary accounts link early fan forms to the time of Emperor Shun. By the Shang dynasty fans had become markers of social rank: imperial and aristocratic protocols specified how many fans different ranks could possess or carry.
Through the Warring States and into Han times, textile technologies advanced and silk became a common fan surface. By the Tang and Song dynasties the round fan matured into an object of exquisite craft — silk or fine paper stretched over delicate frames, painted and embroidered with subtle designs.
“In ancient descriptions you may read of ‘fine silk like cicada wings,’ or fans so light that they were likened to a whisper — an aesthetic standard that craftsmen pursued for centuries.”
Craftsmanship & Materials — an Art of Details
A complete round fan typically consists of the frame, the face (surface), the handle and the tassel. Frames can take many shapes beyond the simple circle: oval, plum-blossom, gourd, or drum forms, each carrying a different visual character.
Fan surfaces vary: silk, crepe, gauze, and fine paper are common. Luxury techniques — tapestry-like kesi (curtain weave), embroidery, and brocade — produce the most prized faces. Kesi in particular is famed for its density and color depth; historically it was compared to gold for its rarity and value.
Maker skills range across pattern design, cutting and stretching the face, frame-making (often bamboo), lacquering, attaching handles and finishing tassels. Mastery requires attention to humidity, temperature and timing — the same materials behave differently in damp or dry weather — so artisans often schedule work around seasonal conditions.
Symbolism — small object, grand meanings
Because of its round form, the tuan shan is widely read as a symbol of reunion and harmony. Poets and literati used the fan as emotional shorthand: it could suggest romance, longing, modesty or even melancholy. In classical verse the fan often acts as a portable stage for personal feeling.
For example, the Han dynasty poet Ban Jieyu described fans made from fine white silk, “round like the moon,” evoking purity and the bittersweet mood of separation. Over time the fan became associated with women’s inner worlds — both a protection of modesty and an emblem of fragile beauty. Stories of abandoned or discarded fans even acquired the resonance of romantic loss.
From a ritual angle, fans were part of wedding and court protocols. From the Wei–Jin period onward, brides would conceal their faces behind a round fan — a practice that combined decorum, modesty and apotropaic (evil-warding) symbolism. In the Song court, the ritual gift of fans during festivals carried political and moral connotations as well.
Modern Revival — intangible heritage meets contemporary design
Although modern appliances replaced the fan’s practical cooling function, the aesthetic and cultural value of the round fan has surged in contemporary times. In 2006, related fan-making techniques were inscribed on a national intangible cultural heritage list, catalyzing renewed interest and preservation efforts.
Contemporary designers and craftspeople — from established studios to young makers — are reimagining the tuan shan. Designers blend traditional techniques with modern motifs, pushing the fan into fashion photography, stagecraft and home décor.
Workshops, community classes, and social media have helped the craft reach new audiences. Influencers and artists use the fan as a visual anchor in shoots, while filmmakers and costume designers return it to the screen as a symbol of classical elegance.
From Palace to Pop Culture — stories and people
The round fan’s narrative threads connect many layers of society. In the imperial court it signaled rank; among literati it was a canvas for painting and poetry; in households it functioned as a personal ornament. Today it continues to offer storytellers and designers a condensed vocabulary of Chinese aesthetics.
Illustrative figures include modern makers who learned the craft from master artisans and then brought it to a broader market — teaching classes, collaborating with film productions and creating bespoke pieces for photography and fashion. These makers are the bridge between preservation and reinvention.
Selected Fans — curated pieces
Below are three curated fans that showcase different materials and design directions — each links to the original product page so you can view details or purchase.
Why the Round Fan Still Matters
The tuan shan is a compact cultural archive: in its materials you can read regional craft histories; in its images you can find literary and poetic worlds; in its use you can trace shifting social rituals. As both material object and symbol, the round fan reminds us that small, everyday tools often carry the deepest human meanings.
Whether used in a bridal procession, displayed in a modern living room, or held by a performer on stage, the round fan’s presence continues to invoke an elegance that is both ancient and freshly relevant. Its revival speaks to a larger interest in tangible cultural practice — a desire to touch and to learn from craft, and to carry forward lineage in contemporary form.
