Fan symbolism

Fans are very important in Japanese culture; in fact, in traditional Japanese dress you can’t be considered fully clothed unless you are carrying a folding fan (called an ogi). The fan itself is symbolic, with the small end representing birth and the blades symbolizing the many possible paths leading away from this beginning. The colors on the fan are also significant. Red and white are considered lucky, and gold is thought to attract wealth.

The main use of fans is to create a cooling breeze for the user, but in Japan it goes beyond the obvious. Fans were once thought to keep away evil, were used in religious ceremonies and to provide shade for royalty. Holding a fan was also considered restorative to the soul. Fans are also used as a social barometer. Placing a closed fan between yourself and someone else means you are acknowledging their superior status. Fans are also used in Japanese theater to accentuate the stylized movements of Kabuki and Noh.

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References: Books And other resources.