History Main / CombatHandFan

* Tenka from ''Manga/DontenNiWarau'' uses a ''tessen'' (see Real Life examples below) to great effect. It allows him to pass as an unarmed civilian and be scarily dangerous at the same time. The fan itself is mundane, but Tenka being the 14th head of the Cloud Shrine ties the whole thing back to the wind motif.

* [[BigBadassBirdOfPrey Hishoumaru]] from Swordbot Shinobi Team in ''Anime/TransformersGo'' has a fan as weapon for his [[BlowYouAway wind]] attacks.

* The Kiyoshi Warriors in ''WesternAnimation/AvatarTheLastAirbender'' all have fans as their default weapon. This, along with their kabuki makeup, are in honor of Avatar Kyoshi, who used them as well.

* The fourth ranked boss in MadWorld, Rinrin, uses pair of fans with blades hidden in the fan part.

A subtrope of ImprobableWeaponUser, this is about a character using a handheld fan in combat. Often wielded by a LadyOfWar, as a folding fan is about as literal as SilkHidingSteel can get. The fan is usually associated with grace, class, and elegance. Given the normal use of fans is to blow air, it\'s often taken to its logical extreme and used to boost [[BlowYouAway wind-based]] abilities.

* ''TabletopGame/{{Pathfinder}}'' has the "Fighting Fan" (essentially a Tessan) and three types of enchanted fans; Black (magical gusts of wind), Red (suppresses magical light or darkness effects) and Wind (a weaker version of the black fan, which can break if it's overused).

** Temari of the Hidden Sand Village carries a comically large folding fan on her back, which she uses for all of her [[BlowYouAway wind ninjutsu]].

** Both Tobi and Madara Uchiha also use a comically large gunbai (open fan) often as an EpicFlail attached to a chain and a medium for [[ForceField barrier ninjutsu]].
** Ginkaku and Kinkaku use a legendary feathered fan themed after one from Literature/JourneyToTheWest that allows them to [[BlowYouAway use]] [[MakingASplash all]] [[DishingOutDirt five]] [[ShockAndAwe elemental]] [[PlayingWithFire ninjutsu]].
* [[BigBadassBirdOfPrey Hishoumaru]] from Swordbot Shinobi Team in ''[[Anime/TransformersGo Transformers Go!]]'' has a fan as weapon for his [[BlowYouAway wind]] attacks.
* Syaoran's mother Yelan in the first ''Anime/CardCaptorSakura'' movie used a fan as [[MagicWand medium]] for her magic when she destroyed the BigBad's [[BarrierBustingBlow barrier]].

A subtrope of ImprobableWeaponUser, this is about a character using a handheld fan in combat. Often used by a LadyOfWar, as a folding fan is about as literal as SilkHidingSteel can get. The fan is usually associated with grace, class, and elegance. Given the normal use of fans is to blow air, it\'s often taken to its logical extreme and used to boost [[BlowYouAway wind-based]] abilities.

* Imagawa Yoshimoto from ''VideoGame/SengokuBasara wields'' one of these. Surprisingly (given the series' penchant for being incredibly over-the-top) he doesn't have any wind attacks. Instead, he beats people with it, and he can also throw it.

* Lady Blossom from ''Film/TheManWithTheIronFists'' also carries a fan with several knives hidden in it for the FinalBattle.

* Syaoran's mother Yelan in the first Anime/CardCaptorSakura movie used a fan as [[MagicWand medium]] for her magic when she destroyed the BigBad's [[BarrierBustingBlow barrier]].

* [[BlowYouAway Wind Sorceress]] Kagura from ''Manga/InuYasha'' uses a fan to enhance her wind attacks.

** Temari of the Hidden Sand Village carries a comically large fan on her back, which she uses for all of her ninja techniques.
** Both Tobi and Madara Uchiha use a gunbai as well.

** Japanese officers would sometimes carry a large, non-folding fan called a Gunbai as a shield and sign of office.
** Tessan were metal framed fans that could be used as clubs when they were folded (or sharpened at the end). Like the Korean fans, they were used as concealed weapons.

Compare PaperFanOfDoom, a comedic trope where a DopeSlap is performed with a paper fan. The two tropes can sometimes overlap, when the PaperFanOfDoom is used as [[LethalJokeItem a viable weapon]]. Nothing to do with the DeadlyRotaryFan.

* In the Literature/TortallUniverse, high-class ladies in the Yamani Islands (a FantasyCounterpartCulture of Japan) carry these as a concealed weapon.

** In games where [[MovesetClone everyone]] has [[WeaponOfChoice their own weapon]], it will be most likely wielded by [[BrattyHalfPint Xiao Qiao]](or her sister [[ShrinkingViolet Da Qiao]] in older installments) and [[TheChessmaster Zhuge Liang]]. Also Sima Yi wielded one in most appearances except 6 and 8. Zhuge Dan also wielded one in his first appearance. Pang Tong gains a Shadow Fan in ''8''.

** Tessan were metal framed fans that could be used as clubs when they were folded (or sharpened at the end). Like the Korean fans, they were used as concealed weapons.

reply:
PaperFanOfDoom is ''specifically'' about the Japanese harisen-style fan, and the description makes it pretty clear that it's about its use in comedic settings.

However, instances of other characters using battle fans keep getting shoehorned into the trope, hence this YKTTW.

reply:
When looking at the examples, I'm thinking it might be a good idea to add something about the connection between fans and [[BlowYouAway wind powers]] (especially the RazorWind variant) to the description.

reply:
* In RealLife, [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hand_fan#Use_as_weapons weaponised fans did exist]]. Examples include;
** Korean war fans, which were usually normal fans converted into concealed weapons, with reinforced frames and hidden blades or compartments containing toxins or irritants to waft in people's faces.
** Japanese officers would sometimes carry a large, non-folding fan called a Gunbai as a shield and sign of office.