Gunbai Uchiwa

A wood war fan decorated with fujimon

Edo period, 18th - 19th century

Height: 44.5 cm

The various implements used by samurai commanders to direct troops on the batterfield were referred to as jineigu. Among them, the gunbai uchiwa, a solid, not folding fan, was the equipment that generals used to communicate commands to their lieutenants. Originally used to ward off heat, the primary function of this fan was then to lend form and dignity to the gestures of the commander.

This rare war fan is covered with paper and finished with gold one one side and silver on the other one. Both sides are decorated with a large fujimon in the center.

The fujimon is one of the most famous Japanese family crests. The purple flowers of the wisteria vine bloom at the beginning of spring and the related kamon represent beauty and elegance. It is directly tied to the Fujiwara clan, the most powerful and prosperous of all the Japanese noble families.