in china, screen fans were used throughout society. the earliest known chinese fans are a pair of woven bamboo side-mounted fans from the 2nd century bc. the chinese character for 'fan' is etymologically derived from a picture of feathers under a roof. the chinese fixed fan, pien-mien, means 'to agitate the air'.

fans were part of the social status for the chinese people. a particular status and gender would accord a specific type of fan to an individual. the folding fan was invented in japan in the 8th century and taken to china in the 9th century. the akomeogi (or japanese folding fan) originated in the 6th century. these were fans held by aristocrats of the heian period when formally dressed. they were made by tying thin stripes of hinoki (or japanese cypress) together with thread. the number of strips of wood differed according to the person's rank. they are used today by shinto priests in formal costume and in the formal costume of the japanese court (they can be seen used by the emperor and empress during coronation and marriage) and are brightly painted with long tassels. the chinese dancing fan was developed in the 7th century. the chinese form of the hand fan was a row of feathers mounted in the end of a handle.

shot this in tsim sha tsui ferry pier, hongkong