War Fan

War fans are called Tessen or Tie shan. The art of wielding them is known as Tessenjutsu. They were first used as a weapons in 16nth century, China. They were portable, easily concealed, and and could be disguised as a common folding fan. Generally, they were used defensively, often to deflect or parry a sword or spear attack. In most cases they were a slicing weapon, but in a closed position could occassionally be use for stabbing motions. As a thrown weapon, they could be quite effective and had good range. Also their round shape meant that the bladded end had a better chance of hiting a target. The war fan could be considered a stealth weapon, as it was made to resemble a folding fan and could be taken into public areas without being obvious. Ancient war fans were made of iron or other metals. Modern war fans are usually steel. The war fan would most likely be used as a last resort weapon in a fight after the sword was knocked away.