Honghu Feather Fan

Honghu Feather Fan

　　The Honghu feather fan is a traditional handicraft. This type of fan is made by arranging the wing and tail feathers of various birds according to their natural growth patterns, colors, and textures to form the fan surface. The ribs are then crafted from materials such as bamboo lacquer, ox bone, plastic molds, and ivory. A silk tassel is often hung at the end of the fan as decoration. Commonly known among the people as the Kongming Fan, this is because Zhuge Liang (also known as Kongming) from the Three Kingdoms period (220–265) often used such fans. The Kongming Fan was made using the feathers of the noble swan and fitted with an ox horn handle, combining ethnic style with commemorative significance.

　　An exquisite handicraft can be a feast for the eyes and a joy to hold. The Honghu paper folding fan possesses such charm. It is exquisitely crafted, elegant and generous, easy to carry, and its fan surface—whether inscribed with poetry or printed with landscapes—plays an important role in beautifying life.

　　The fan-making industry in Honghu has a long and storied history. As early as the late Ming and early Qing dynasties, the fan trade was already established in Xinti. During the reign of Emperor Shunzhi in the Qing Dynasty, Honghu paper folding fans were already being sold in North China, Northwest China, Shaanxi, and Shanxi. Folk art was closely tied to the daily lives, customs, and traditions of laborers. Emphasizing inner beauty and symbolic meaning, these fans conveyed messages of peace and tranquility. For instance, during the annual "Ghost Festival" on the 15th of July in North China, Northwest China, Shaanxi, and Shanxi, locals would specifically purchase Honghu paper folding fans to burn as offerings to commemorate deceased relatives and friends. This custom was not only popular domestically but also widely practiced in Southeast Asia.

　　A century ago, the fan workshops of Xinti had close business ties with the Wang Xingji Fan Shop in Hangzhou. Hangzhou had long been processing bamboo ribs and fan molds for the Wang Xingji Fan Shop. Before liberation, there were over 120 fan workshops in Xinti Town, most of which were concentrated in what is now Zhongjiadun. Among them, the paper folding fans of "Hongmaohe" were the most famous. Representative veteran artisans included the late Zheng Mingqing and Ye Changfa (now in his eighties), whose family had been engaged in the fan craft for three generations. The Hubei Provincial Government awarded them the title of "Master Artisans and Craftsmen."

　　The craftsmanship of the Honghu paper folding fan is complex and meticulous, with each fan requiring thirty-four steps. It blends traditional techniques with modern technology, offering the widest variety of styles in the industry nationwide. Based on craftsmanship, they can be divided into three main categories: raw molds, cooked molds, and fan surfaces. Paper folding fans are made from southern bamboo and high-quality paper. The bamboo mold and paper surface must fold and unfold smoothly into a semi-circle, with a neat, classic, and elegant appearance that is both portable and stylish. Depending on the carving technique of the fan ribs, they can be categorized as deep-carved (where the designs on the ribs are raised), giving an impression of simplicity, boldness, freehand knife work, and a rustic yet stable feel. Based on the color of the fan ribs, they are named: White Jade, Red Gold Character, Red Gold Star, Black Gold Star, Reverse Yellow, Oil Color, Black Jade, Betel Nut, Spotted Flower, etc. Based on the shape of the fan ribs, they include: Ruyi Pattern, Nine Linked Rings, Wind Edge Iron Fang, Seven Sticks of Firewood, Nine Scallions, etc. Among them, the "National Lacquer Spotted Flower" fan ribs produced by the city’s fan chopstick factory, coated with "Maoba Lacquer," are glossy as a mirror, with naturally interlocking patterns that are vivid, exquisite, and uniquely styled. The "National Lacquer Spotted Flower" is referred to abroad as "Leopard Flower." These are not painted patterns but are meticulously roasted onto the ribs by artisans using controlled fire—a technique unique to Honghu in all of China.

　　To date, Honghu paper folding fans are sold in over twenty countries and dozens of large and medium-sized cities. In recent years, they have served rural markets in advertising, tourism, and promotional industries, achieving significant social and economic benefits. In 1980, Honghu paper folding fans ranked third in rib quality and first in design variety in a national fan competition. In 1982 and 1986, they were awarded the "Hubei Province Quality Product Certificate" twice in a row. In 1983, they received the Honorary Certificate for Excellent Export Products from the Ministry of Foreign Trade of the People's Republic of China.