Aventail of Japanese military chief General view

The integration of the aventail, a sought-after accessory for city-dwellers' evening journeys, into the military equipment was an occurrence specific to Japan, where its role may be compared to that of the western baton of command. The war aventail therefore symbolizes the authority of its owner, but it can also be transformed into a dangerous weapon, given that it is made entirely from metal.
Adopted by warriors in the 12th century, in the Kamakura era, two versions of the war aventail were developed. The first type was called "uchiwa", which remained in an open position, since the metal manufacturing process meant that it could not be sealed. The uchiwa remained the preferred option for higher and middling ranks. The model in the Musée de l'Armée's collections is an example of the second type, known as the "tetsu-sen", which was worn by subordinately ranking officers.
The aventail's metal frame brings together two deliberately weighed-down branches to transform the piece into an offensive weapon when needed. A dragon with Chinese influences is engraved on each of the branches, emphasized in gold and silver Damascene. The 13 parts are made from wood, while the blades are made from gilded paper.
Each aventail offers a decoration unique to it. We can now see a traditional depiction of a rising sun drawn under the form of a red disk rising over a golden field. An emblem still in use today, which can be seen on the Japanese flag.