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Japanese Folding Fans

By: Shahd and AyaClass: 8D

+AOI ; Environment

To make a Japanese fan people used different materials like wood to make the ribs of the fan and the wood comes from trees. They sometimes used paper to create the fan and as we all know paper comes from trees. The tree they use to get paper from is called “Bamboo Tree”. They also used paper cloth sometimes to make the fan. Paper cloth also comes from Bamboo tree. So as we can see the tree was their inspiration of hand fan.

+What is the Folding Fan

It’s made of paper (or cloth) on a bamboo frame. It often has a decorative picture or calligraphic character on it. Even though round fans were introduced from China, it was the Japanese who created the folding fans. The fan is produced to provide cooling. Another name for the Japanese folding fan is "Akomeogi."

+History of Folding fan

The fan has a rich cultural emotions to the heart of people in Japan. The Japanese fan presents the Japanese society. In the past the fan was made from paper on a bamboo frame. The folding fan was invented in Japan around the 6th to 8th century. The fan was a way to rate people by how high they are in society. The more strips in the fan, the richer the person is. The Japanese fan has many aspects of Japanese society from warrior to actors and dancers. The Japanese made the hand fans as a symbolized status, royalty and other social standings. Then after time the fan spread through Europe and other western countries. In the 6th century it was called Akomeogi, but now people call it “Fan” because it provides coolness. Some people in Japan used to give “fans” as gift in weddings; so technically to them it was something precious. Today, in traditional situation, Japanese fan play an important role as a property. Many ladies still likes to use it to keep them cool in the hot weather and for performance purposes.

+What does the Fan means to Japanese Society

The Japanese hand fans are an important symbol in Japan . They were used by warriors as a form of weapon, actors and dancers for performances, and children as toys. The Japanese believe that the top handle of the fan resemble the beginning of life and the ribs stands for the road of life going out in all direction to bring happiness and fortune.

+How was the folding fan used?

The Japanese fan was used in many different ways. It was used to cool people down. It was also used in military, as a way to send signals on the field of battle. They were also used to decorate homes. The fans that were used to decorate homes are called “Wall Fans”. They add life to the room and can be arranged symmetrically or casually on a wall. Some people used to hang them on the roof.

+How to make Folding Fans?

What you need :

Paper

Chop sticks

Glue

Rubber band

+ Step One

Start by acquiring the paper you'd like to use in your Japanese folding fan. You can use a plane sheet of white paper, or use a piece of paper with a nice design on it, such as wall paper

Step Two

Cut the paper so the length is taller than the width. Step Three

Step 3

Fold the paper accordion style, with each fold being about 1 inch. Take care to make sure that each fold is slightly larger at one end.

+Step Four

Now, take the chop sticks and break them apart so that they are individual sticks. The thinner the chop sticks you can find, the better. Thinner sticks will give a nice concise profile to your Japanese folding fan. Glue one in every other fold of the fan, all on the same side of the fan.

Step Five

At the bottom of the chop sticks, about one inch from the end place a rubber band. Wrap it around many times so that it is tight around the chop sticks. Now when you spread the fan open, the rubber band will keep the ends of the chop sticks together. You now have a functioning Japanese folding fan

+References

How to Make a Japanese Folding Fan | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5294413_make-japanese-folding-fan.html#ixzz13XQkPJ1d

http://www.google.com.qa/images?um=1&hl=ar&tbs=isch:1&ei=If3QTNrCD4O0vgOTl4m3DA&q=Japan+fan&sa=N&start=18&ndsp=18

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_fan

http://oriental-decor.com/japanese_folding_fans.php