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Korean Fans

  • Image of "Fan, From Naju, Jeollanam-do, Korea, Joseon dynasty, 19th - 20th century Fan, From Goseong, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea, Joseon dynasty, 19th-20th century Fan, From Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea, Joseon dynasty, 19th - 20th century"

    Fan, From Naju, Jeollanam-do, Korea, Joseon dynasty, 19th - 20th century Fan, From Goseong, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea, Joseon dynasty, 19th-20th century Fan, From Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea, Joseon dynasty, 19th - 20th century

    Asian Gallery (Toyokan) Room 10
    August 26, 2008 (Tue) - October 5, 2008 (Sun)

    Before the invention of air conditioners, fans were used not only in Japan but also in other parts of Asia, including the Korean peninsula. The early evidence of fans in Korea include a round fan handle from a tomb dated to the 1st century B.C. and the painting of a figure using a round fan on the wall of a tomb dated to the 4th century.

    The earliest written record concerning fans can be found in the Samguk Sagi (Historical Record of the Three Kingdoms), according to which a local ruler in Silla heard of the enthronement of the first king of Goryeo in 918 and sent one of his vassals to the king to convey words of congratulations and present a gift of "a peacock fan" and arrows made of bamboo from Mt. Jiri.

    During the Joseon dynasty, men used folding fans and women mainly used round fans. Korean fans have various shapes and decorations, each of which has its own name. This exhibition features round fans collected in four areas of the southern part of the Korean peninsula.

 Major works in this exhibition

* Works listed below are in the TNM Collection unless otherwise indicated.
Fan, From Naju, Jeollanam-do, Korea, Joseon dynasty, 19th - 20th century
Fan, From Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea, Joseon dynasty, 19th - 20th century
Exhibitions