During the worst of the recent heatwave in Europe, when temperatures in Prague soared to 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit) and even the nights refused to cool below 30, someone kindly lent us an electric fan. It did not transform our temporary accommodation in the Czech capital into a cool refuge, but it made the oppressive heat far more bearable.
Long before electric fans and air conditioning, the hand fan had already been a faithful companion in Chinese life. For more than 3,000 years, it not only brought relief from the summer heat but also acquired a remarkable variety of forms, each with its own purpose and place in society.
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