For those who do not like heat and high humidity, Japan may become an undesirable country to visit in the summer. The climate of this state will seem very uncomfortable to such tourists. The air temperature at this time of year in Japan is high - about 30 °C. It would seem that it is not too difficult for a person from Russia to endure such a temperature. But summer humidity in Japan can reach 70%.
It doesn’t get any cooler in the summer in the Land of the Rising Sun even in the evening. The temperature at this time of day drops to a maximum of 26 °C. It is impossible to rest from the heat even at night. It is especially hot in summer in Japan in those cities that are surrounded by mountains.
Living in such a climate all their lives, the Japanese, of course, came up with many ways to protect themselves from the scorching sun. Japanese methods are very effective, and Europeans consider some of them funny.
Long sleeve gloves
Many people in Japan, both women and men, wear special long sleeve gloves in the summer. People from other countries always find it strange. After all, according to the European stereotype, in the hot summer you need to wear clothes, on the contrary, without sleeves, for example, T-shirts and tops.
Perhaps the Japanese would have done the same. However, most people in this country love white skin and hate tanning.
Heat sleeves are sold in many Japanese stores. They are made of a special fabric that is highly breathable and has other unusual qualities. According to the manufacturers, such sleeves do not insulate, but even cool the hands by 5 degrees.
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Bandanas and hats are made from the same fabric in Japan. The Japanese also protect themselves from the heat in summer with the help of sun umbrellas.
Mosaic of the planet
Japanese legend says that the folding fan - ogi, which is so convenient to hide in the sleeve, appeared during the years of Emperor Tenji (661-671). A master from the small village of Tamba, impressed by the design of bat wings, created something similar from paper and thin slats. This is how any story about the history of the fan usually begins.
But documentary evidence tells a different story. The fan came to Japan from China. The first written mention of it dates back to the 6th century AD. At that time it was a fan-fan made of paper or silk on a frame made of a split bamboo trunk, the so-called “utiva”. Its shape was very diverse - round, square, oval, with a wooden handle, with a pattern. Over time, the designs on the fans became more complex, more sophisticated, and more and more functionality was added.
With the help of uchiwa, military leaders gave orders and gave signals during battle; in theatrical performances, the fan began to play a certain symbolic role, and then special ceremonial fans for weddings and tea rituals began to appear. Fans became indispensable in everyday life, firmly entrenched in Japanese culture - they were used to fan the coals in the fireplace, winnow rice, and you never know what other uses they had. A kind of fan etiquette appeared in Japan - respect for a nobleman was expressed by lowering the fan, with a small movement of the fan they greeted each other, on it the Japanese gave alms to the poor, and on the fan he accepted gifts and delicacies.
At the end of the 8th century, the fan was improved. The new folding fan “sensu” consisted of thin sandalwood or cypress boards fastened at one end, which were subsequently covered with paper. It was the sensu that became an integral part of the costume of sophisticated and sensual court ladies, a traditional addition. They wrote notes and poems on these fans, used them to vent their emotions, covering their faces with them, and communicated with secret fan signs...
The next novelty in the fan arsenal was the “ogi” - this is exactly the traditional fan that is commonly considered and called “Japanese”. Ogi in the Middle Ages served as an indicator of wealth and wealth, because they were made and decorated by hand. It was also very much loved by dancers and geishas, widely used in their dances and various ceremonies.
Even now in Japan, with its humid climate, the fan has not become an archaic attribute. Nowadays, in addition to traditional materials - paper and silk - fans and cases for them are also made of plastic. In addition, it has found another modern application: it has become a place for a variety of advertising.
Cooling sprays and wipes
This mint-scented product is also very popular in hot weather in Japan. The cooling spray is easy to use. It is simply applied to the inside of clothing before going outside.
For the body, Japanese and Japanese women can also use cooling wipes in the summer. A very popular product in the Land of the Rising Sun are special stickers that absorb sweat. Stickers can be attached both to clothing and directly to the skin.
History of Japanese fans
Greetings!
So, today I have prepared an article for you that will tell you about the history of fans. I hope that you will find it at least a little interesting. Happy reading^^
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Like many other features of culture and life, fans came to Japan from China. The Japanese probably first saw them among the Korean princes who visited Japan. From the VI-VII centuries. paper and silk fans also became popular on the islands. The imported Chinese fans gradually acquired new forms and the first truly Japanese fans appeared, unlike their mainland ancestors.
The Heian period (794 - 1185) dates back to the appearance of the flat, non-folding uchiwa fan, the final form of which was established only in the 14th century. Thin bamboo rods—usually 45, 64, or 80 of them—created a base to which Japanese washi paper was attached. Usually, a design was applied to this paper on both sides, which could have its own characteristics depending on the traditions of the region of the country in which the fan was made. The shape of the utiwa could be different - oval, tending to a square or “full moon”. The fan had a handle, which was made from a separate piece of wood.
On the basis of utiva, an accessory for military leaders arose - the gunbai battle fan (literally: “commander’s fan”; (n) in such combinations is read as (m), therefore the term is pronounced and often written in foreign languages as gumbai) or gumbai utiva, which covered with varnish, various water-repellent compounds, and sometimes made entirely of wood or metal. In the latter case, the fan became a serious weapon, and history has brought to us many examples of its use in battle. However, even more often on the battlefield and in individual battles a folding battle fan was used - tessen, which etiquette allowed all samurai to wear, and not just high-ranking ones. The technique of its use was more diverse than that of gumbai, and formed into a separate art - tessen-jutsu. And yet, like the gumbay, the folding military fan did not seek to replace conventional weapons, but had as its main purpose the issuance of orders and signals on the battlefield.
The decoration of the signal military fan was almost always a red circle on a yellow background, symbolizing the sun. On the reverse side of the fan, the same solar disk was painted in yellow on a red background.
During the Edo period, utiva became widespread and was especially loved among artists, thus becoming a certain sign of a new, peaceful way of life. New motifs for paintings made on fans appeared; they became more and more complex and refined. At this time, fans became an integral attribute of the middle class, actors, geishas and sumo wrestlers. Their popularity also contributed to the growing popularity of fans, which were produced in huge quantities until the very end of the 19th century.
Nowadays, Japanese fans are used by dancers, performers of traditional songs and theater actors, in whose hands the fan can symbolize various objects, from a brush to a fighting sword. While watching a sumotori fight, you can see a variation of the gumbai uchiwa fan in the hands of the referee - gyoji. The practice of making fans as souvenirs is widespread.
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History of Kabuki fans
Many people around the world believe that fans came to us from the everyday life of the Japanese. This is a little wrong, Japanese fans were originally objects of art, and only then began to be used in accordance with their functions.
The history of Japanese fans goes back to the national kabuki theater. This is a Japanese theater in which only men performed. It was professional, but more often than not markets or private indoor stages were used for performances. Historical architectural monuments of Japan show that many wealthy houses had gardens with special theaters. Kabuki historically used fans to cover the lower part of the face for men to look like women. Gradually, Japanese fans began to be used in everyday life, but kabuki also changed at this time.
Huge fans appeared here, which surpassed anything in Japan in their beauty. They were no longer used to cover the face, but became part of dances. They were the main productions, so the number of fans became large. They were somewhat reminiscent of a fan, but in accordance with their function they were never used. So don’t think that we got fans from the lives of ordinary Japanese people; they are part of their rich culture.
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History of the Japanese fan
The beautiful and mysterious Japanese fan has a very ancient history. In Japanese, there are two types of fans: sensu and uchiwa.
The sensu fan is of Chinese origin. It consists of several plates that have the ability to fold and unfold. In Japan, the sensu fan was used mainly in martial arts. With this fan, if it is rolled up, it can be hit on the head, and when unfolded, it can be hit on the throat, since the edges of the fan were sharpened very sharply.
The uchiwa fan is a petal fan made of a wire frame or a single piece of wood, which is covered with silk. Unlike the sensu fan, the uchiwa fan is a purely Japanese invention.
It is believed that fans originally came to Japan from China. Probably, the Japanese saw fans from the visiting princes of China, who often visited the islands of Japan. In the 6th and 7th centuries, paper and silk fans became very popular in Japan. At first they were imported from China, but then, acquiring new forms, Japanese fans appeared over time, completely different from their Chinese predecessors.
The non-folding flat fan uchiwa appeared during the Heian period (794-1185). At first it was made from thin bamboo twigs. A base was created from twigs, and special paper, washi, was attached to it. A beautiful design was applied to the paper on both sides. The uchiwa fan could be oval or shaped like a square with rounded corners.
Sensu fans gained popularity in the 8th century. The ribs of these fans were made of valuable wood and covered with Japanese parchment. And already in the 11th century, sensust fans became an integral accessory for court ladies.
Japanese fans have not lost their popularity in our time. They are used not only by the Japanese, but also by residents all over the world as an unusual and beautiful piece of furniture, accessory or souvenir.
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A Brief History of Fans in Japan
One old legend says that the very first fan was brought to earth by the Great Goddess of the Wind after she gained compassion for the rather difficult human lot. So, as a relief, she gave people a magic fan - from now on, any person, if he suddenly got into trouble, could easily create a wind - that is, turn to the Great Goddess.
We don’t know how the goddess is doing, but Feng Shui masters are used to interpreting the meaning and use of the fan in their own way.
So, back in the 2nd millennium BC, which fell during the era of Emperor Wu-Wan, the very first fans arose. A little later, round paper fans on a handle also appeared - it was they who moved from China to Japan.
But the first fans, which were used as talismans, appeared in China in the 10th century, and Japan invented its analogue in the 7th century. These folding fans consisted of flat plates that were cut from bone, mother-of-pearl, turtle or wood - they were all connected to each other, and the top was covered with parchment or paper, or silk.
A fan is a rather important detail not only of Japanese costume, but also of Japanese life. It is enough that the very first folding fans, called ogi, were a purely masculine attribute - they were worn along with weapons. It was later that samurai began to use fans to give signals, and already in the 10th century the fan became an attribute of aristocrats.
In addition, fans were often exchanged between women and monks on special occasions; they were used as an attribute of the tea ceremony, and also as a notebook. Women often used them in everyday life for their needs, and they were also a mandatory attribute for theater actors.
Afterwards, fans begin to be made from bamboo and fairly thick paper - “washi” - which is then painted with ink. These fans were often decorated with calligraphic inscriptions, or there were images of flowers, birds, animals, landscapes and other images with benevolent symbolism. Often, the decor of a Japanese fan, as well as the fan itself, was created strictly in accordance with the time of year, location, event, social status, age and profession of the owner.
From the end of the 15th century, the Japanese fan was brought to England and Spain. Then he conquered Italy, and only then France. And already in the 17th century, the folding fan captivated all of Europe - even Russia.
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Japanese fans in the world
Japanese culture has given humanity many interesting objects that have become excellent decorative elements. Of course, similar things were found in the history of many nations, but it was the Japanese who were able to reveal their true beauty, and not just functionality.
Japanese fans are a great example of this because they may seem like a simple functional addition at first glance. In fact, each fan is a real work of art that requires a lot of effort and time to create. The numerous handicrafts in Japan have created a wonderful culture that has delighted all mankind.
However, it was the fans that became the real highlight. The fact is that we have always seen fans solely as a functional necessity, but in this eastern country they have become, rather, part of the style or a beautiful trinket. The creation of Japanese fans was and remains a separate craft, which not everyone can comprehend.
Only Japanese fans are highly valued all over the world, because they reveal the true beauty and brightness of this beautiful country. Japanese fans require special attention because there is no such decorative element.
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I hope you enjoyed this article and learned something new about yourself.
#HistoricalClub
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Fans
Traditionally, in Japan, fans are also used for cooling in hot weather. Ordinary fans with a straight “working” surface are called uchiwa. Japanese women can also use classic folding sensu fans. Such things in Japan are used mainly by representatives of the older generation.
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The younger generation increasingly prefers to buy more innovative “fans” - special small fans.
Fans can be worn in the hand or around the neck. In Japan, such fans can also be sewn into baby strollers and workers' workwear.
Fan: beautiful and deadly
In China, the fan was not used quite traditionally. It was used in the philosophical, martial and alchemical teachings of Taijiquan, Tao and others.
Many similarities were found between fans and butterflies, and the belief arose that exercises with a fan make the one who practices them similar to a butterfly. The main feature of working with a fan is the development of the ability to combine the force of the fan with the force of the body.
It was in Japan that the familiar image of a fan developed . With the idea of making everything more perfect, Japanese masters changed shapes and as a result created a folding fan from wooden planks , which were folded into an accordion in a semicircle, called sensu. The rest of the fans were made on its basis.
Beautifully painted fans were a set for the ceremonial women's kimono "Tomesode".
In 988, the Emperor of China was presented with an improved version of the fan. Even two bat fans and 20 other colorful folding fans. In China, they fell in love with the shape of the Japanese fan, which they began to paint with traditional Chinese landscapes.
In Japan, the image of the fan continued to be improved. It acquired particular significance in the Heian and Nara eras.
There was also a custom of making large paired matrimonial fans, which were used to decorate the house or to be taken to guests as an integral item of etiquette. A custom arose of seasonally painting fans with flowers that were supposed to match the hairstyle, kimono, and home interior, creating a relaxed and unique charm.
There were also fighting fans. They were made of iron, they were folding or always open. When folded, the fan was used as a club; when unfolded, it was used to protect against throwing weapons.
Working clothes
As in Russia, workers on the street in Japan must wear closed clothing with long sleeves and pants for safety reasons.
Built-in fans inflate such clothes with a bubble, which, according to many Europeans, looks very funny.
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Workers place a mini cooling cloth under the helmet.
Cooling towels and pillows
If desired, in Japan you can also purchase a cooling towel in the store. This towel is moistened with water and applied to the body. The fabric of the towel has such a texture that the person using it does not experience unpleasant sensations, as when placing an ordinary wet towel on the body.
In addition to towels, the Japanese can also use cooling gel collars in the summer. These collars are first placed in the refrigerator. When going outside they are worn around the neck. Another interesting Japanese accessory is anti-Covid cooling masks. Cooling pillows, as well as cooling blankets and pet mats are also available in Japan.
