Chinese Paper Fans

Section 01

What makes a paper fan

A Chinese paper fan is a hand fan whose leaf is made of paper — usually a strong, flexible sheet that can be pleated and folded without tearing. The classic form is the paper folding fan (纸扇, zhǐshàn): a paper leaf spread across bamboo or wooden ribs, collapsible into the hand.

Paper is the everyday material of the fan world. It is light, cheap, takes paint beautifully and can be printed by the thousand — which is why paper fans are both the most common souvenir and, in skilled hands, a genuine surface for Chinese fan painting.

Section 02

Paper, sizing and printing

• Xuan paper (宣纸) — soft and absorbent, the painter's paper, used for quality fan leaves.
• Mulberry and bamboo papers — strong and flexible, good for pleating without cracking.
• Sizing — the leaf is treated with alum and glue (胶矾水) so ink and pigment sit on the surface instead of bleeding.
• Printing — machine-printed leaves are flat and uniform; hand-painted leaves show brushwork.

The difference between a printed and a painted paper fan is the same as the difference between a poster and a painting. The full authentication checklist is in authentic Chinese folding fans, and the painting side is covered under Chinese fan painting.

Section 03

How a paper fan is made

• The leaf is cut to the fan's arc and sized so it holds ink.
• It is painted or printed while flat, before the pleats are formed.
• The paper is folded into pleats along the lines that will match the ribs.
• Ribs are inserted or glued between the pleats, with the two guard sticks on the outside.
• The bottom edge is trimmed, the rivet is set, and the fan is folded shut to set the creases.

A well-made paper fan opens and closes smoothly for years; a cheap one cracks at the folds within weeks. The difference is the quality of the paper and the patience of the folding — both described in the paper fan craft tradition.

Section 04

Famous paper-fan traditions

Paper fans have two very different lives in Chinese tradition. One is art: literati and painters treated the paper leaf as a small canvas, and Chinese fan art would be unthinkable without it. The other is everyday craft: paper fans were the affordable fan of the people, printed with flowers, blessings or opera scenes.

They are also one of the easiest traditional objects to make at home, which is why “chinese paper fan” searches lead so many people to DIY projects. A simple pleated paper fan with painted bamboo is a classic school craft — and a genuinely traditional one.

Section 05

Caring for a paper fan

• Store the fan closed, in a dry place away from humidity — damp paper warps and stains.
• Keep it out of direct sunlight; printed colors and paint both fade.
• Open and close it gently along the pleats, never forcing the leaf.
• Handle by the ribs; skin oils mark paper.
• If a pleat tears, repair from the back with thin glue rather than tape.

For the everyday-use fan, paper is the right choice: cheap, light and replaceable. If you want something that lasts a lifetime, move up to silk fans or bamboo fans.

Section 06

Frequently asked questions