otherJune 27, 2026

Kyo Sensu

Kyo Sensu (京扇子) is a category of folding fan produced in Kyoto, Kyoto Prefecture. The sensu (扇子) is a tool used to fan and create a breeze, and is also employed in ceremonies and performing arts. Kyoto served as the principal production center for fans in Japan until the medieval period, and the craft's origins extend to at least the Nara period, with the oldest surviving folding fan dated to 877 CE.

History

The broader history of fans in Japan predates the folding form. Records show that uchiwa (round fans) were in use in China before the common era, spreading to various parts of East Asia during the Sui and Tang dynasties. In Japan, a fan handle was excavated at the Riita ruins in Saga Prefecture, and the oldest hinoki-ogi (cypress fan) found at an archaeological site was excavated from the residence of Prince Nagaya together with wooden tablets bearing year inscriptions, confirming the existence of cypress fans during the Nara period. These earliest folding fans were made from thin cypress boards approximately 30 cm long and 2–3 cm wide.

The oldest surviving fan is a cypress fan discovered inside the arm of a Thousand-Armed Kannon statue at Toji Temple in Kyoto, dated to the first year of Gankyo (877 CE). By the mid-Heian period, the bat-wing fan (蝙蝠扇), with paper pasted on five or six thin bones, had appeared in Japan as a summer fan. During the Heian period, fans were used not only for fanning but also for ceremony, gift-giving, and communication—waka poems were written on them as gifts—and a fan-matching event (扇合せ) was recorded in the fourth year of Tenroku (973 CE) during the reign of Emperor Enyu. In 988 CE, a Japanese monk's disciple named Kiin presented 20 cypress fans and 2 bat fans to Northern Song China.

During the Muromachi period, three basic forms of the closed fan were established in Japan: suehiro/chukei, setchin (sessho), and shizume-ori. Folding fans that had entered China were re-exported to Japan during this period as "Tosen" (唐扇), with paper pasted on both sides of the bones. Fans decorated with Japanese paintings, known as "kosen," were made in large quantities and exported to Ming China. Fans also became essential tools in Noh, Kyogen, and tea ceremony, eventually spreading to the common people during the Edo period. During the Edo period, Kyoto craftsmen moved to Edo and fan production flourished there, and it was customary to give white fans as New Year's gifts to close acquaintances.

Eastern fans were introduced to Europe in the 16th century. Spain was the first European country to adopt the fan, and it spread to other countries under the name "Spanish fan." By the 17th century, Europeans were manufacturing fans themselves; in 17th-century Paris alone there were 150 shops dealing in fans. In the 18th century, Rococo-style fans were produced in large numbers in France and other European countries, and a body language system called "fan language" (扇子言葉) emerged. The European-style fan was subsequently re-imported to Japan, giving rise to the silk fan (絹扇). In 1872, Japan exported 800,000 fans in a single year. For a comparison with the Edo Sensu tradition that developed in Tokyo, see the related article on that craft.

Techniques & Production Process

Kyoto fan production employs a division-of-labor system, in contrast to Edo fans, which are made by a single craftsman. A fan is opened by pushing the bones sideways with the right thumb. The typical opening angle of a sensu is between 90 and 180 degrees, with approximately 120 degrees being the most common.

Fan bones (骨) are generally made of bamboo or wood, tapering thinner toward the tip. Most bamboo fan bones produced in Japan come from the Adogawa river basin area in Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture. The outer bones (親骨) can be decorated with lacquer (urushi) or maki-e. The pivot of the fan, known as the kaname (要), is made from metal, plastic, horn, tortoiseshell, or whale baleen to bundle the bones together. The fan surface (扇面) is traditionally covered with processed Japanese paper called "noriji" (糊地), though synthetic fibers and cloth are also used. In early Heian period fans, the bones were exposed on the reverse side of the fan surface; the style of pasting paper on both sides spread after the Muromachi period. The artist Tawaraya Sotatsu is said to have been particularly skilled at painting fan pictures (扇絵). For related textile crafts produced in Kyoto, see Nishijin Tsuzure-ori.

How to Identify Kyo Sensu

Kyo Sensu are characterized by a feminine aesthetic in their designs and shapes, distinguishing them from Edo fans, which tend toward masculine designs and feature thicker, more numerous bones for a sturdier construction. Kyo Sensu fan surfaces may be decorated with painted imagery in the tradition of fan picture artists, and the outer bones may be ornamented with lacquer or maki-e. Fans in this tradition are associated with use in performing arts and ceremony as well as everyday cooling. For a related Kyoto fan tradition, see Kyo Uchiwa, the round fan also produced in the region.

The Craft Today

Kyoto remains a significant center for fan production in Japan. The craft is represented at Aoyama Square (伝統工芸青山スクエア), located at 8-1-22 Akasaka, Minato-ku, Tokyo, a venue operated by the General Foundation for the Promotion of Traditional Craft Industries (一般財団法人伝統的工芸品産業振興協会). Aoyama Square is open year-round except for the New Year holiday period, with regular hours of 11:00 to 19:00. The sensu continues to function both as a practical cooling implement and as an accessory used in Japanese performing arts, ceremonies, and cultural practices. For broader context on Japanese traditional crafts of this category, see the Japanese Traditional Crafts (Other): The Complete Guide. Related fan traditions in Japan include Boshu Uchiwa from Chiba and Marugame Uchiwa from Kagawa.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Kyo Sensu?

A Kyo Sensu (京扇子) is a traditional folding fan produced in Kyoto. The sensu is a tool used to fan and create a breeze, and is also used in ceremonies and performing arts.

How old is the tradition of folding fans in Kyoto?

The oldest surviving fan is a cypress fan found at Toji Temple in Kyoto, dated to 877 CE. Folding fans made from thin cypress boards also existed during the Nara period, as confirmed by archaeological finds at the residence of Prince Nagaya.

What materials are used to make Kyo Sensu?

Fan bones are generally made of bamboo or wood, with most Japanese bamboo bones sourced from the Adogawa river basin in Takashima City, Shiga Prefecture. The fan surface is traditionally covered with processed Japanese paper called noriji, though synthetic fibers and cloth are also used. The pivot (kaname) is made from metal, plastic, horn, tortoiseshell, or whale baleen, and outer bones may be decorated with lacquer or maki-e.

How does Kyo Sensu differ from Edo fans?

Kyoto fan production uses a division-of-labor system involving multiple specialist craftsmen, while Edo fans are made by a single craftsman. Edo fans also have thicker and more numerous bones, resulting in a sturdier construction, and tend toward masculine designs, whereas Kyo Sensu are associated with feminine designs and shapes.

How were fans historically used in Japan beyond cooling?

During the Heian period, fans were used for ceremony, gift-giving, and communication, including the practice of writing waka poems on fans to present as gifts. Fans also became essential tools in Noh, Kyogen, and tea ceremony, and during the Edo period it was customary to give white fans as New Year's gifts to close acquaintances.