The Chinese elevated the common fan to an art form. they grew beyond, the realm of being ordinary household artifacts becoming integrated with traditional Chinese painting and calligraphy to become works of art. Chinese fan culture developed hand in hand with Chinese history until the modernization of the mid 20th century.
Of the hundreds of fan artisans in historical Shanghai—only two remain today. The main allure of the Chinese fan now is its value as a collector's item especially for two types of Chinese fans-the Tuan Shan (reunion fan) and the Zhe Shan (a plaited fan that can be folded).
Tuan Shan fans are made of silk and can be round as well as square, or rectangular with rounded edges. They were carried by both men and women until the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) when they became identified as a fashion accessory for women.
