Bansho Fan

The Bansho Fan is a legendary weather-controlling artifact that plays a role in the original Dragon Ball series. It is described as having the ability to create a strong wind with a single wave, summon a cloud with two waves, and produce a torrential downpour with three. The fan was designed specifically to stoke and control the flames of a magical furnace, making it essential for dealing with supernatural fires.

Master Roshi once possessed the fan but admitted to using it as a potholder. After spilling wonton soup on it, he threw it away, leaving its whereabouts unknown for some time. The fan's origins are somewhat mysterious; Roshi speculated it was made from feathers of the Hikui Bird, though he later admitted that he had been intoxicated when writing the book containing those instructions.

Goku and Chi-Chi eventually crafted a replacement Bansho Fan using instructions carved into a giant rock in Octagon Village. The carvings appeared to be written in the Namekian language, though the connection between Namekians and the fan has never been explained. Goku used the completed fan in the final episodes of Dragon Ball to extinguish the flames on Fire Mountain once again.

Cultural Roots

The Bansho Fan draws inspiration from the Bashosen, a treasured tool from the Chinese classic Journey to the West. In that story, the Banana Palm Fan belongs to Princess Iron Fan, the character on whom Chi-Chi is partially based. The fan's physical design also resembles a Japanese gunbai, a type of signaling fan made famous by the warlord Takeda Shingen.