Paper Fans
Ancient China for Kids
The ancient Chinese loved fans. The earliest fans were made of feathers. One of the ancient Chinese gods, Zhong-Liquan (the war god), often carried a fan of feathers, although no one knows why. Perhaps he simply liked it.
Over the years, the clever Chinese people made fans from all kinds of materials including straw and wood. For a long time, going way back to Shang times, fans were stiff circle on a stick and used for cooling oneself, by waving it back and forth. Fans truly were piece of art. They were decorated and painted and very beautiful as well as useful in warm weather.
It was not until the Ming Dynasty that the Chinese discovered the art of paper fan folding. The Chinese invented so many things, including. But they did not invent the folded paper fan. That invention arrived from Japan and Korea on the Ming Dynasty ships that wandered the earth in search of treasure.
Once the folding paper fan was introduced into ancient Chinese society, it was immediately adopted. Everyone had to have a folding paper fan. Fans were embroidered and painted and decorated and hung. For a while it was a fad, but it soon became a national activity - nearly everyone made and carried gorgeously decorated folding paper fans.
Fans remained so popular that there are now over 500 types of fans. Fans of all sorts are still wildly popular in China today.
Explore Ancient China
Ancient China Occupations, Professions
The invention and importance of tea
Superstitions in Ancient China
Taoism - An Ancient Philosophy
Comparison of Beliefs - Taoism, Confucianism, Legalism
The 3 Teachings - Confucius, Taoism, Buddhism
Myth: Why Chinese dragons have five toes
Myth: Nian, the Horrible Monster
Ancient Story: Wang the Peddler
Ancient Story: The True Story of Mulan
Ancient Story: The Warrior Well
Legend: The Story of Shadow Puppets
Stone Age, Bronze Age, Iron Age (for kids)
Achievements & Ancient Inventions
Take the Quiz, interactive with answers
Interactive Games about Ancient China for Kids
For Teachers
Ancient China Lesson Plans, Classroom Activities, Projects
What is the difference between a proverb and a fable? (1-2 class periods)
The Three Doctrines & Legalism
Debates on Censorship (2-3 class periods)
The Silk Road Game (1-2 class periods)
Several Lesson Ideas for Ancient China
Free Use PowerPoints about Ancient China for Kids and Teachers
See Also: