Henna, jewellery and body artEast Asia
Tuanshan
In its own language: 團扇 (tuánshàn)
A rigid silk fan held by the bride to hide her face before revealing it to the groom.
The tuanshan is a stiff circular or oval silk fan from China. In traditional weddings, brides use a moon-shaped version called queshan to cover their faces. They hold it to ward off evil spirits and show modesty, lowering it only after specific rituals with the groom.
When is Tuanshan kept?
Tuanshan is kept during the wedding ceremony.
The tuanshan is a rigid, circular silk fan originating in China. Historically used by women, it plays a specific role in traditional Chinese weddings. Brides hold a moon-shaped variant called queshan to conceal their faces. This act protects against evil spirits and maintains modesty until the bride reveals herself to the groom.
Origins and craft
The tuanshan began as a round silk fan during the Eastern Han dynasty. Artisans built frames from bamboo or ivory and stretched silk across them. By the Tang dynasty, women favored these fans. Paintings and calligraphy became popular decorations during the Song dynasty. The design spread to Japan, though folding fans grew more common there. The rigid tuanshan stayed popular in China until the late nineteenth century.
The wedding rite
Brides carry a moon-shaped tuanshan called queshan during the ceremony. They hold it before their faces to display shyness and create mystery. The fan also serves to drive away evil spirits. The bride keeps the fan raised until the couple shares the hejin wine and the groom recites poems. This sequence is known as the Etiquette of removing fan.
Modern practice
Today, makers in China continue to produce tuanshans. They appear frequently as accessories for Hanfu, the traditional clothing revival. The fan remains a recognizable symbol of classical Chinese aesthetics and bridal attire. Collectors and enthusiasts value the intricate paintings and calligraphy found on older examples.
How Tuanshan is kept
The bride holds the fan in front of her face throughout the ceremony. She uses it to hide her shyness and protect herself from bad luck. Once the couple drinks the hejin wine and the groom recites poems, she lowers the fan to reveal her face to him.
When and where
The fan is used during the main wedding ceremony. The bride holds it until the wine drinking and poem recitation are finished.
The custom originates in China and extends to Japan. It is strongest in regions where traditional Han Chinese weddings are practiced.
What Tuanshan means
The fan conceals the bride's shyness and preserves her mystery. It acts as a spiritual barrier against evil spirits. Lowering the fan signals the bride's acceptance of the groom and the completion of the initial barriers.
Who takes part
- Bride: Holds the fan to cover her face and lowers it after the rituals.
- Groom: Recites poems to impress the bride before she reveals her face.
Then and now
Artisans still manufacture tuanshans in China. They serve as popular accessories for people wearing Hanfu garments today.
On the wedding table
- Hejin wine: Shared by the couple during the ceremony before the fan is removed.
Symbols: Wine and the shared cup
Questions people ask about Tuanshan
When is Tuanshan kept?
Tuanshan is kept during the wedding ceremony.
What is a tuanshan?
It is a rigid, circular or oval silk fan from China. It often features paintings or calligraphy on a bamboo or ivory frame.
How is the fan used in a wedding?
The bride holds a moon-shaped version called queshan to cover her face. She keeps it there to show modesty and ward off evil spirits.
See also
KizombaA slow, sensual partner dance from Angola that turns wedding parties into intimate social gatherings.
Blessing ceremony of the Unification ChurchA large-scale marriage rededication or new union ceremony that engrafts couples into a sinless lineage.
Shinto weddingA Shinto purification ritual featuring sake sharing and kimono attire held at a shrine or venue.JiaobeijiuThe ancient Chinese rite of sharing wine from linked cups to seal a marriage.Good reading and sources
The facts on this page come from the Wikipedia article "Tuanshan", written by its contributors and used under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence, and from its Wikidata record (CC0). EveryShaadi rewrote the text in its own words, with AI assistance, and compares every page with the article to make sure no passage is copied. It may be reused under the same CC BY-SA 4.0 licence with a link back.
It may contain mistakes. Wedding customs differ from one family, village and community to the next, and the people who keep them know them best. If something is wrong, tell us. Last refreshed 2026-10-06.
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