The meaning behind the gift of a fan｜Recommended gift-giving occasions and points to note
On occasions when you want to express your congratulations or daily gratitude to a loved one, you want to choose a wonderful gift that will remain in your heart. If you are at a loss to choose a gift for such a congratulatory occasion, we recommend a fan for gift-giving. Easy to carry and convenient to use in daily life, fans have long been regarded as an item of good fortune, which is another major attraction of fans. In this article, we will tell you the meaning behind the gift of such a fan, recommended gift-giving occasions, and points to keep in mind when giving a gift.
What does it mean to give a fan as a gift?
You may be thinking of giving a fan as a gift to a loved one. A fan has the meaning of "gradually spreading out and flourishing" because it forms the shape of the end of a fan when it is spread out. For this reason, they have long been considered a good-luck charm in Japan. Although fans are fashionable and easy to use in everyday life, they are actually a gift of good fortune. For a gift or souvenir for a happy occasion, please choose a fan as a token of your feelings for the recipient.
Scenes in which a gift of a fan is suitable or taboo
In Japan, it has long been customary to give a fan as a gift for celebrations and congratulatory occasions. Here, we will explain the occasions when fans are suitable for gift-giving, as well as those occasions when it is taboo to do so.
You may be thinking of giving a fan as a gift to a loved one. A fan has the meaning of "gradually spreading out and flourishing" because it forms the shape of the end of a fan when it is spread out. For this reason, they have long been considered a good-luck charm in Japan. Although fans are fashionable and easy to use in everyday life, they are actually a gift of good fortune. For a gift or souvenir for a happy occasion, please choose a fan as a token of your feelings for the recipient.
Occasions when a gift of a fan is appropriate
Celebration of longevity
A fan is recommended as a gift for elderly people in celebration of kanreki (60th birthday), koki (70th birthday), and so on. In such cases, choose a pattern that wishes for longevity and good health. In addition to the auspiciousness of the fan, you can also convey the feelings contained in the pattern. For example, crane, turtle, and gourd patterns are suitable for longevity celebrations.
Coming of Age Ceremony
At the Coming-of-Age Ceremony, many new adults celebrate in gorgeous kimono attire such as furisode (long-sleeved kimono) and montsuki hakama (formal kimono with a crest). We recommend giving a fan that goes well with kimono as a souvenir. If you are taking before and after photos in kimono, you may also enjoy posing with the fan as a prop.
Shichi-Go-San [1].
The fan pattern is one of the auspicious patterns. The fan pattern is sometimes used on kimono for the Shichi-Go-San celebratory kimono, which prays for the healthy growth of the child. It is also recommended to give a fan as a gift to the child celebrating Shichigosan. You may also let your child hold the fan as a prop during the photo shoot.
・Gifts for Chinese people
In Chinese, a fan is a homonym for "good deed (shansu)," meaning "kindness" or "good deed," making it an ideal gift for a friend. They are also sometimes used as gifts at weddings and courtships. In folklore, fans are also used as lucky charms to ward off evil spirits and establish love.
Occasions when the gift of a fan is taboo
However, it is not very popular in China to give a fan as a gift between lovers. The reason for this is that the pronunciation of the Chinese word for fan (shan zu) is reminiscent of the word for "dispersal (shan) hua. This is also because fans are used in the summer and thrown away in the winter, which evokes the image of parting.
In China, fans are also given as gifts for good luck and are valued as works of art. Calligraphy fans are considered elegant art gifts that give the enjoyment of beauty. Today, giving a fan is a good choice for anyone interested in traditional Chinese culture.
As you can see, depending on the various customs in different parts of the world, the actual symbolic meanings also vary greatly from country to country and region to region. In gift-giving situations for people from different cultures, select appropriate items, taking into consideration even the cultural background of the recipient.
Six recommended fans as gifts for loved ones
Why not choose a fan as a gift for a loved one? Here we introduce six types of fans that we recommend for gift-giving occasions. If you have any doubts about how to choose a gift, please refer to them.
Edo fan set, 6 gourds (Mubai) No.11
This is an Edo-style folding fan with a lucky design of six gourds (mukiyo), which means "good health" in Japanese. It is recommended for longevity celebrations to pray for the recipient's long-lasting health. Hyotan is also known as a symbol of wish fulfillment, as in the Senari Hyotan horse mark used by Toyotomi Hideyoshi. This design is also suitable as a gift for Shichigosan (seven-five-three) and coming-of-age ceremonies to pray for your child's growth.
Click here for more information about "Edo Fan Set, Rokubou (six gourd) No.11
Edo folding fan set, dragonfly, blue No.24
This Edo folding fan set features a dragonfly, a standard Japanese pattern, on a fresh blue fan surface. Dragonflies, which are beneficial insects, have long been considered a symbol of a good harvest. They are also known as "kachimushi" (victory bugs) because of their unique non-retreating flight, and many warriors are famous for using dragonfly designs on their armors and family crests. Recommended for festive occasions such as boys' Shichi-Go-San and coming-of-age ceremonies.
Click here for details about "Edo Fan Set Dragonfly Blue No.24
Shikebiki fanDouble-sided Purple [Reprinted in Japanese Gen Urushi] 7.5" with paulownia box and pouch
This is a high quality fan made of the finest materials and manufacturing methods, with a graceful purple fan surface that will grace your hand. We recommend this product as a gift for a kanreki (60th birthday) or koki (70th birthday) celebration for mothers and grandmothers, as well as for adult women who enjoy wearing traditional Japanese clothing. The fan bone made from high-quality bamboo is finished by coating it with our original color scheme of real lacquer. On the fan surface, pigments that match the color of the lacquer are used to draw brushstrokes using a traditional technique called "shikebiki.
「Shikebiki fanClick here for details about "Double-sided Pattern Purple
Shikebiki fanDouble-sided Pattern, Indigo [Reprinted in Japanese Gen-Urushi] with paulownia box and bag, 7.5" long
This is a high-class fan suitable for an adult's attire. The deep indigo fan is finished with a brush pattern using the traditional technique of "shike-biki". Indigo is also called "Japan blue" overseas and is popular as a traditional color symbolizing Japan. The fan bone is lacquered with a luxurious lacquer. How about a gift for a man's kanreki (60th birthday) or koki (70th birthday)? This elegant fan, made of carefully selected materials and manufacturing methods, goes well with Japanese-style clothing.
「Shikebiki fanClick here for more details about "Double-sided Pattern Indigo
Edofolding fan No.31Asano-ha deisignClouds, light mint color
This is a traditional Japanese pattern calledAsano-ha deisignThis is an Edo fan in light marijuana color, a cross between the traditional Japanese patterns of "hemp leaf" and "Zuikumo" (auspicious clouds). Hemp leaves have long been used as a design to protect children from evil spirits, and are also used on baby clothes. Zuikumo, a pattern of clouds in nature, is also one of the auspicious patterns and is suitable as a gift for festive occasions. It is also a good gift for Shichi-Go-San, the seven-five-three festival to pray for the healthy growth of boys.
Edofolding fan No.31Asano-ha deisignClick here for more information about "Clouds, Usukari-iro
Edofolding fan No.30Asano-ha deisignBall, light red
This is an Edo fan with a lovely light red fan decorated with a "Temari" pattern, which is a design of girls' playthings. The hemp leaf, a design to ward off evil, has a meaning of praying for the healthy growth of the child, and is suitable for the Shichi-Go-San (Seven-Five-Three-Three) celebration. The Temari pattern is also often seen on furisode (long-sleeved kimono) for coming-of-age ceremonies and on kimono for brides-to-be, with the wish that they will be able to build a happy family. It is also recommended for coming-of-age celebrations.
Edofolding fan No.30Asano-ha deisignClick here for more information about "MARI: Light Red
Understand the meaning of giving a fan as a gift and give a wonderful gift!
We have introduced the meaning behind the gift of a fan, suitable occasions for gift-giving, and Ibasen products that we recommend as gifts for your loved ones. Folding fans in the shape of the end of a fan have long been considered a good-luck charm in Japan, making them ideal for gift-giving. Give a fan for various celebratory occasions such as longevity celebrations, coming-of-age ceremonies, and the seven-five-three-three festival. Some gift fans come in a variety of colors and patterns. Choose the perfect gift based on the occasion for which you are giving it and the feelings you wish to convey to the recipient.
「Main types of fans｜Categorization by material, usage, production area, size, and correct usageClick here to see