There were many kinds of fans in ancient China, though only the Zheshan (folding fan) and Tuanshan (round fan) have grown to receive true appreciation from art collectors
The folding fan is also known as the “head-gathering” style of fan because its ends meet together when folded. Such fans were first manufactured in the Song Dynasty (960-1279) and became popular in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).
The birth of the round fan was much earlier than those of the folding variety. Its shape, like a full moon, signifies the auspicious meaning of a union and happiness. The round fan has many elegant names, like ” Wan Shan”, ” Luo Shan”, “Bing Mian” ” Bian Mian” and “Zhang Mian.”
Such fans were very popular in the Han Dynasty (202 BC-AD 204). The best ones had a surface covered by white silk from East China’s Shandong Province while the handles were crafted out of bamboo from Central China’s Hunan Province…more
Covering of a Fan
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People on the fan
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（Source: chinaculture.org）