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 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. A folding fan is a fashionable item that is easy to use in everyday life, but it is actually a gift that brings good luck. For a gift or souvenir for a happy occasion, please choose a fan to express 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 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. A folding fan is a fashionable item that is easy to use in everyday life, but it is actually a gift that brings good luck. For a gift or souvenir for a happy occasion, please choose a fan to express your feelings for the recipient.
Scenes for which the gift of a fan is suitable
Celebration of longevity
A fan is recommended as a gift for an elderly person, such as for a kanreki (60th birthday) or koki (70th birthday) celebration. 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
Many new adults celebrate the Coming-of-Age Ceremony in gorgeous kimono such as furisode (long-sleeved kimono) and hakama (formal kimono with crests). We recommend presenting 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 a 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 take a look at them.
Edo folding fan set, Mubai No.11
This is an Edo-style folding fan with a picture of good fortune, combining the six gourds (Rokugyo = "six gourds") with the phrase "good health and good fortune. 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. It is 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 Fan, Double-sided Pattern, Purple [Reprinted in Japanese lacquer] with Paulownia Box and Bag, 7.5
This is a high quality fan made of the finest materials and manufacturing methods, with the elegant purple fan surface that makes your hand look graceful. 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.
Click here for more details about "Shikebiki fan, double-sided, purple".
Shikebiki folding fan, double-sided, indigo color [Reprinted in Japanese lacquer], with paulownia box and pouch, 7.5cm
This is a high-class folding fan suitable for an adult's attire. The deep indigo fan surface is finished with a brush pattern using the traditional technique of "Shikebiki". 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.
Click here for more information about "Shikebiki Fan, Double-sided Pattern, Indigo
Edo folding fan No.31 "Asanoha" cloud, light mint color
This is a light-red Edo fan that combines the traditional Japanese patterns of "hemp leaf" and "auspicious clouds". Hemp leaves have long been used as a design to protect children from evil spirits, and have also been used for 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.
Click here for details about "Edo Senshi No.31 Asanoha, Clouds, Usuka-iro".
Edo fan No.30 "Hemp leaves, balls, light red
This is an Edo fan with a lovely light red fan decorated with a "Temari" pattern, which is a design of a girl's plaything. The hemp leaf, which is a pattern 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.
Click here for details about "Edo fan No.30 Asanoha, Ball, Light Red
Understand the meaning of giving a fan as a gift and make a wonderful gift!
We have introduced the meaning behind the gift of a folding fan, the appropriate occasion for a gift, and Ibasen products that we recommend as a gift for a loved one. The fan, shaped like a fan with a spreading end, has long been considered a good-luck charm in Japan, making it a perfect gift. 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 of the gift and the feelings you wish to convey to the recipient.
「Main types of folding fans｜Categorization by material, usage, production area, size, and correct usageClick here to see