The Feather Fan is a defining accessory of Zhuge Liang in Romance of the Three Kingdoms. Held by a scholar commanding armies, it gives visible form to composure, judgement, and authority exercised through planning.
Chapter 104 makes that recognition dramatically useful. After Zhuge Liang’s death, the Shu army presents his wooden likeness in a four-wheeled carriage with the familiar headwear, feather fan, and crane cloak. Sima Yi takes the figure for the living strategist and retreats in alarm.
The fan’s force in this scene comes from recognition and reputation. A modest handheld object helps sustain the image of a commander whom his enemy still fears. It need not generate wind or wield supernatural power to carry extraordinary meaning within the story.