Paper Fans

Nowadays, most people take paper for granted. It costs a few dollars to purchase a slab of it for your printer at Staples. Nothing major. However, once you're immersed in the world of paper, you'll realize that it's never "simply" paper. There is inexpensive printer paper available that is created from refined wood pulp and sells for less than $10 for 500 sheets. Alternatively, you may spend $32 and get 50 sheets of paper created from processed elephant poop.

Hanji was a type of handmade paper made in Korea from mulberry plants. Along with writing, it served a variety of decorative and artistic functions. For folded hand fans was one of their uses. Only men were permitted to use these fans in public, and they were flaunted as a status symbol.

The fan's owner was probably more essential the more elaborate it was. Different hues, forms, and embellishments displayed that rank. For instance, a fan's status increased with the number of bamboo ribs it had. 50 ribs were used as fans by royalty. Aristocracy with less status could have 40.