It is light, exceptionally strong and pliable. Mostly, bamboo is used to create the bones of a kite. Kite construction consists of three parts: framing, gluing and decoration. Another use was to deliver urgent messages.”īeautifully designed kites by a Chinese couple Hearing the melodies, the Chu soldiers began to miss their homes and scattered without fighting in the war…. Children sitting in the large kites played tunes of Chu (the present Hubei Province) on flutes. The general of the Han troops, Zhang Liang, ordered his soldiers to fly kites in the heavy fog around the Chu troops led by Xiang Yu. The technology evolved further during the historical Chu-Han War of 203 - 202 BC. One book noted that the master carpenter, Lu Ban, also made some that were flown high to spy on the enemy. The prominent ideologist Mo Zi spent three years constructing a wooden kite that failed after one day's flight. According to a record, “(Kites) first appeared in the wars of the Spring and Autumn Period (770- 476 B.C.). This was a time when kites were still used mainly as functional devices to calculate and record wind readings and communicate in a fashion similar to flags of ships. The use of paper kites occurred a millennium later, when kites were flown in order to appeal for help during the siege of Nanjing. He wrote extensively about the use of wooden bird kites in China. Mozi was a philosopher and lived a century later than Confucius (551-479 B.C.).

Mu Yuan or wooden kites, find a mention in the tales of Mozi (470-391 B.C.). Interestingly, the earliest kites in China were for military purposes such as measuring distances for moving large armies. As a traditional culture and folk art, kite has formed unique style of different regions during its development, among which the most famous ones are the styles ofBeijing,Tianjin, Weifang in Shangdong Province, Sichuan andGuangdong Province.An ancient painting depicting kite flying in China Third, painting the kite may be done in each way.Ĭhina has a large area of territory. Silk kites, especially, are more durable and generally of higher artistic value.

The regular paper or sometime silk is used to cover the frame. It should be thick and strong for a kite of large dimensions in order to stand the wind pressure. To make a kite, first, the right kind of bamboo strips must be selected for the frame. Paperhanging includes: selecting material, cutting out, paperhanging, and cutting away or adding material as needed.Ĭolor drawing includes: composing picture, outlining, dyeing (or coloring), and decorating.įlying includes: selecting site and weather, choosing the kite, launching the kite into the air, adjusting the line, and controlling the kite. Structuring includes: selecting bamboo, chopping bamboo, bending bamboo, and joining bamboo. The workmanship of Chinese kites can be summarized in four points: structuring, paperhanging, color drawing, and flying. In recent years, kite flying has publicized as a sports activity as well as entertainment. Literators at that time made kite by themselves, and sent to relatives and friends as a gift, regarding it a literary pursuit. The kites underwent great development in size, design, decoration and flying skills. The Ming (1368-1644) and Qing dynasties, was the peak period of the Chinese kite. Kite making became a profession due to the large demand. Participated by the literary, the making and the decoration of kites underwent great development. Kite became popular among civilians with a richer variety of forms and reached the peak point in the Song Dynasty (960-1279). With the innovation of papermaking, the raw material of kite changed from silk to paper. In the mid Tang Dynasty (618-907), in which the society was stable and peaceful, the use of kites was gradually changed from military to entertainment. According to historical record, kite was first used in military. Uses of kite have been changed several times in history. In this process, Chinese traditional culture integrated with the kite craft, and finally formed the kite culture with unique characteristics. About in the 12th century, Chinese kite spread to the West, and the oriental and Western kite culture was formed after years of development. Kites were invented by the Chinese people over 2000 years ago.

Ancient china dragon kite