Ideographic: To fan 扇 the flames 火; 扇 also provides the pronunciationRadical:

meaning for shān:

  • - to fan into a flame
  • - to inciteto incite
  • - to instigateto stir up emotion
  • - to arouse sympathy
  • - movingprovocativeincitement to subvert state power (criminal charge used to gag free speech)crime of conspiring to overthrow the state