The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-10-24
TIE FAN IN JAPAN.
DETAILS or THE PROCESS OF DE-
SIGNING AND MANUFACTURING.


Great Variety Of Coiors Applied by
Means Of Blocks Of Cherry wood-Fans
|, for Gentlemen of Taste-Thc Fans Many
Uses-Etiqnette.
Among the scenes Of unique interest which
arrest the eye of the traveller IN Japan one
finds ones self we'll repaid for visit to the
fan makers. Few Of those who visit the
curios shops TO purchase these gaudy trifies
have any idea Of the meaning Of their pct
uresoue designs or the method 10y which they
are made. Yet this handicraft does really
more 10 advertise japan than any other
manufacture. Fans are made by Thousands
of independent laborers, centralized capital
and labor for the manufacture OF works OF
art and handicraft being as yet little known
in Japan. The principal workers In this
trade are found in Toxic, Kioto, Nsgoya and
Fukui.
We have have watched the operation from
beginning TO end-the splitting of bamboo.
the cutting and pasting Of delicate rice paper
by the girls, the artistic, dainty picturing'
the finishing and packing; They are some
times inscribed with Ahssic quotations.
poetry, statistical tables, almanac lore, maps,
pictures Of noted places and congratulations.
Often these are made to depict life, customs,
architecture in Europe, or even Yokohama,
that city being the immediate link between
tue japanese and foreigners. Thus are the
fans in the household, Of which there are
niany, made 10 educate the family.
The design for the pictures on an ordinary
Fat fan is first drawn on thin paper then
pasted on block Of cherry wood and en-
erayed: afterward printed from this by lay
ing the fan paper on the block and pressing
smoothly. japanese books have been printed
in this way for centuries prior 70 the late
changes in the empire. The variety OF colors
are put on with not infrequently as many as
twenty blocks. Often the picture papers
have the choicest of perfumes laid between
them before being pasted on the frame, then
finished with ivory handles, inlaid and gold
lacquered.
FOR GENTLEMEN or TASTE.
Gentlemen Of luxurious tastes have large
collections Of these refreshing trihes, with
autograph inscriptions and pictures from
celebrated artists A very dainty custom in
vogue is 70 exchange fans as we DO photo
graphs
We, as foreigners, are supposed TO do
things upside down. In this country the
large, fat fans are for the use Of gentlemen,
but in Japan il would be a dire breach OF
| etiquette, as these are used exclusively by
women. The gentleman always carries IA
folding fan in his girdle or bosom, usually
elegantly decorated. Ii he is a scholar or
! author when be invites bis literary friends
20 his house they must 60 prepared 10 in
scribe this dainty bit Of refreshment offered
4 them on arrival 4 rack Of silver hooks, or
/ a tubular tan holder . found ia every house
of the least pretention
Japan uses the fan for a great variety OF
/ purposes; made Of stout paper 70 wlnnow
grain, for dust pans and charcoal fire blow
ers: Of waterproof paper for dipping IN
water end as O yaporizer, for producing ex-
/ ~ GOODNESS % the face There are double
winged fans for the jugglcr, who makes
butterfly Of paper flutter up the edge OF
sword. for tho judges az wrestling matches
and for the dancing girl. who makes her tan
a part of her own graceful motion and classic
pose In charming grace Of manner the
japanese arc uncqualed, and secret though
decorous love is often expressed IN artistic
use OF the fan I'll! consummated by openly
ayowed attachment
As tokens OF good feeling and polite atten-
ton Americans are not infrequently the re-
cipients Of costly fans from their japanese
friends On "a certain special occasion, ac-
companying an invitation 70 dinner, tied
with daintiest silk corn on perfumed paper,
was tray Of corrections and sponge cake in
lacquered box of exquisite make and case
Of three rare, painted fans, each tied IN silk
napkins
On leaving the empire a family with
whom delightful relations had been estab-
lished, sent as a parting gift beautiful gold
lacquered cabinet, in one Of the drawers of
which was found a number of perfumed
fans Of elegant manufacture, which will be
lifelong kecpsakes in memory Of the aesthetic
japanese. Helen II. 5. Thompson IL Good
Housekeeping.