Kyo-uchiwa is a Kyoto flat fan whose greatest characteristic is its "sashie" (inserted handle) structure, in which the handle and the fan face are made separately and the handle is inserted afterward. Unlike typical uchiwa fans in which the ribs and handle are made from a single piece of bamboo, Kyo-uchiwa's fan face has numerous bamboo ribs arranged radially, and its distinctiveness lies in attaching a separately lacquered and decorated handle afterward. Its origin is said to trace back to the Nanboku-cho period, when fans brought from the Korean Peninsula reached Fukakusa near Kyoto, and in the Edo period it developed into "gosho-uchiwa," fans painted by court painters for the imperial court. Though a practical item, it is cherished as a craft in which beautiful designs reminiscent of Japanese-style painting harmonize with precise bamboo work.
Origin
The origin of Kyo-uchiwa is said to trace back to the Nanboku-cho period. It is said to have begun when Korean fans, brought to western Japan by wako pirates, passed through Kishu and Yamato and reached Fukakusa (present-day Fushimi Ward, Kyoto City), then a villa area for Kyoto nobles. This Korean fan was characterized by a structure with many bamboo ribs arranged radially within the fan paper, which led to the basic structure of the later Kyo-uchiwa.
History
From the Edo period onward, "gosho-uchiwa" — fans painted by artists of the Tosa and Kano schools for the imperial court — emerged and are said to have been a major catalyst for the development of Kyo-uchiwa. It was also during this period that the "sashie" (inserted handle) structure, in which the fan face and handle are made separately and the handle inserted afterward, became established as unique to Kyo-uchiwa. Since then, while remaining a practical item, it has also developed as a gift item and decorative item, continuing to the present day.
Features
Drawing on the lineage of the Korean fan with many bamboo ribs within the fan paper, its greatest characteristic — and what distinguishes it from uchiwa fans of other production areas — is the "sashie" (inserted handle) structure, in which the fan face and handle are made separately. A frame of precisely arranged bamboo strips is decorated with delicate designs reminiscent of Japanese-style painting or woodblock printing, combining practicality with artistic craftsmanship. Diverse shapes and designs are made according to purpose.
Techniques
Sashie (inserted handle)
A structural technique unique to Kyo-uchiwa in which the fan face and the handle are made separately, with the handle inserted into the completed fan face afterward to finish the piece.
Rib-frame processing
Bamboo is cut into set lengths ("dogiri") and split into thin strips ("warutake"), then arranged radially with uniform width and thickness to form the fan's frame.
Materials Used
Production Process
- 1
Cutting and splitting the bamboo
Bamboo is cut into cylindrical sections ("dogiri") and split into thin strips ("warutake") sized to the fan.
- 2
Building the frame
The split bamboo strips are trimmed to even width and thickness and spread out radially as the frame.
- 3
Decoration
The Japanese paper that will form the fan face is decorated with hand-painting, woodblock printing, or dyeing.
- 4
Pasting (backing and joining)
The decorated Japanese paper is pasted onto both sides of the frame.
- 5
Finishing (edge trimming and handle attachment)
The edges are trimmed, and the separately made handle is inserted into the fan face to complete the piece.
Artisans & Workshops
京うちわ 阿以波
A long-established Kyo-uchiwa shop founded in 1689, continuing for over 330 years. Housed in a traditional townhouse-style store, it offers Kyo-uchiwa in a wide variety of shapes and designs.
Official site →塩見団扇株式会社
A Kyo-uchiwa manufacturer and retailer founded in 1944, with a workshop in Yamashina Ward, Kyoto City. It also makes custom orders and offers fan-making experiences.
Official site →How to Buy
- Purchasing at long-established shops
- Available at the traditional townhouse store of Kyo-uchiwa Aiba (Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto City) and at Shiomi Uchiwa (Yamashina Ward, Kyoto City), among others. Practical fans start in the low thousands of yen, while elaborately designed display and gift fans can cost several thousand yen or more.
Hands-on Experiences
京うちわ 阿以波
京都市中京区柳馬場通六角下ル
At the physical store, visitors can pick up and choose from a wide variety of Kyo-uchiwa handcrafted by artisans. Incense is included with purchases.
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