War Fans
Quick appreciation post for the Japanese iron fans 💨
Tessen (鉄扇) or Gunsen (軍扇) were war fans commonly used by lords and commanders until the end of the Edo period.
There have been stories of daimyo and warlords using fans to block attacks and even defeat enemies (Takeda Shingen I'm looking at you), but war fans were more commonly used as sunshades, to signal to troops or even to block arrows, knives or darts.
Under the Tokugawa, tessenjutsu (iron fan technique) was taught as a martial art to men and women of the bushi class. Their use in conflicts resurfaced in the Bakumatsu, Serizawa Kamo (one of the commanders of the Roshigumi) was well-known for carrying one.
Tessen (鉄扇) or Gunsen (軍扇) were war fans commonly used by lords and commanders until the end of the Edo period.
There have been stories of daimyo and warlords using fans to block attacks and even defeat enemies (Takeda Shingen I'm looking at you), but war fans were more commonly used as sunshades, to signal to troops or even to block arrows, knives or darts.
Under the Tokugawa, tessenjutsu (iron fan technique) was taught as a martial art to men and women of the bushi class. Their use in conflicts resurfaced in the Bakumatsu, Serizawa Kamo (one of the commanders of the Roshigumi) was well-known for carrying one.
The tessen were
extremely useful since they could be carried in places that forbade weapons such
as swords, and could be used in narrow places.
Tessen come in different
shapes and materials, and if, like me, you ever wondered what weapon Uchiha
Madara carries, it is a giant gunbai (open fan) which is an obvious reference to
his family name/crest. Gunbai are now only used by sumo referees.
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