Kyo Sensu

A pocket-sized artwork

Kyo sensu are folding fans for keeping cool, for ceremonies, for the performing arts such as dance and tea, and for display. Ribs are cut from bamboo, and the leaf is washi or silk decorated with gold, silver or tin leaf, gold dust and painting. The work is split among specialists: rib making, paper making, decorating, folding and finishing. It is made in Kyoto, Uji, Kameoka and Nantan in Kyoto.

Folded to the ribs

• The washi leaf is decorated with metal leaf, sprinkled gold and painting.
• It is folded in a mould to match the number of ribs.
• Gaps are opened in the paper for the ribs.
• Glue is applied and the inner ribs are inserted.
• The two outer ribs are glued on last.

From court slips to Europe and back

Folding fans began in the early Heian period, probably by binding together thin wooden slips used for writing. The first were hiogi of thin hinoki slats; paper fans of bamboo and paper followed and were exported to China around the 13th century. They travelled on to Europe, and the European fan in turn came back to Japan and inspired the silk fan.