The Top 10 Facts on Chinese Kites for China Travelers
- 1. Kites were invented in China about 2,300 years ago. ...
- 2. Kites played a role in providing intelligence for Chinese military forces. ...
- 3. There are many types of Chinese kites: centipede, hard-wing, soft-wing, and flat. ...
- 4. The longest airborne kite was 6,000 meters long. ...
- 5. Kites are linked to Chinese celebrations and symbolism. ...
- 6. Kites were used to drive off bad luck. ...
Why are kites so popular in China?
Actually, Chinese kites can be compared to the most beautiful forms of Chinese art, such as Chinese umbrellas and Chinese traditional masks. As we already mentioned, kites became very popular during the period of the Tang dynasty. Kite flying became a widespread activity, but mostly in the upper class.
What are the uses of a kite?
Kites were first made to measure distances, providing information to aid moving large armies across difficult terrain. They were used to calculate and record wind readings, similar to ship flags at sea.
What is the history of the kite kite?
Kites were invented in China during the Warring States Period. In the beginning, they were used for military purposes and gathering information. The Warring State period is an era in Chinese history that lasted from 475 BC to 221 BC. It was a turbulent period, characterized by war and division of states.
What is the Chinese kite art form?
But beneath the clouds there is a Chinese art form that has glided through history. This ancient relic brings the colors and patterns of the ancient dynasties to the city skies of modern China and the world. It's the famous Chinese kite and its long history of cultural significance begins thousands of years ago. What Are Chinese Kites?
What did the Han Dynasty use kites for?
Originally, kites were used by the military to measure distance and wind directions, and to send messages. General Han Xin of the Han Dynasty (206 BC - 220 AD) used kites to measure the distance of the tunnel under the Weiyang Palace (northeast of downtown Xian today).
What are Chinese kites called?
In ancient China the kite was known as 'Zhiyuan' (paper glede). Originally regarded as a technology, it also featured prominently in many art collections, and was considered to have unique artistic value. It first appeared in the wars of the Spring and Autumn Period (770 BC - 476 BC).
Why did the Chinese invent the kite?
It is thought that the earliest use of kites was among the Chinese, approximately 2,800 years ago. The kite was said to be the invention of the famous 5th century BC Chinese philosophers Mozi and Lu Ban. By 549 AD, paper kites were being flown — in that year a paper kite was used as a message for a rescue mission.
What kite symbolizes?
The kite can represent vision, acuity, focus, and skill.
What do you call the paper kites in China?
The Weifang Kite Tradition Flying kites is a popular pastime in China.
How many categories do Chinese kites have?
Generally, there are six kinds: Beijing kite, Weifang kite, Tianjin kite, Nantong kite, Jiangnan kite, andTaiwankite.
How do you make a traditional Chinese kite?
1:484:12Ancient China - Kite Making - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAlong Tyrus has to carefully Handclap. And paint each piece of the kind.MoreAlong Tyrus has to carefully Handclap. And paint each piece of the kind.
How were kites made in China?
The earliest Chinese kites were made of wood and called muyuan (wooden kites); they date as far back as the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.) at least two millennia ago. After the invention of paper, kites began to be made of this new material called zhiyuan (paper kites).
When Were Kites invented?
Kites were invented in the early Warring States Period (475 - 221 B.C.) by Mozi and Lu Ban, two philosophers who came after the teachings of Confuc...
The Weifang Kite Tradition
The city of Weifang, Shandong Peninsula, has a special relationship to the kite. The city is namely home to the International Kite Association, and...
Marco Polo and The Expansion of Chinese Kites
It was in the city of Weifang that Marco Polo, in 1282, supposedly witnessed the flying of a manned kite. According to Marco Polo's travel diary, t...
See Kites and More of What You Want in China
To learn more about Chinese kites, you might be interested in a Shandong tour. Our popular China tours can be extended to Shandong. We can also des...
Why are kites important to China?
More than just a pretty thing in the sky, Kites have served China in a number of ways and inspired a generation of innovators and engineers to make the impossible, possible. The history and legacy of Chinese kites have been and will always be connected to resilience, innovation, and quality. That is why Modern China has taken ...
What is the connection between kites and China?
Kites and China, a combination contested by others but for most of the civilized world, is a rather obvious connection. The history of China, spanning thousands of years has always been a witness to the contributions of unknown Chinese artisans for their contributions. More than just a pretty thing in the sky, Kites have served China in a number of ways and inspired a generation of innovators and engineers to make the impossible, possible.
What is the most important thing about kites?
With thousands of years of historical context just waiting to become uncovered, who knows what the facts are waiting to be unearthed? The most important thing is that the heritage of kites and kite flying never stopped.
Why do people use kites?
According to other historical accounts, kites were used to drive off personal bad luck by means of flying them and releasing the string. According to some, it wards off illness and bad luck, but a pleasurable experience nonetheless to see a kite flutter across the sky.
Why did Han Hsin use the kite?
In 200BC, General Han Hsin used the kite in order to fly across the castle walls that he was trying to take siege. Another account was of a General who was under siege this time. He used the kites with harps fitted to them and then it was flowing across enemy camps.
What is the Chinese name for the wind harp?
There seems to be validity to it since kite, in China is also known as Fen Zheng (Wind+ Harp). Historical data accounts for the use of kites by Chinese Emperors to signal troops from far away. Such use of kites for military purposes has been a constant record in Chinese historical data. Emperor Wudi of the Liang Dynasty was surrounded by Hou Jing ...
When did the kite come out?
The Kite and Its Humble Beginnings. Written documents about kites date to 478 BC when a Chinese Philosopher named Mo Zi spent creating a wooden Hawk figure that could fly. The account was taken from a Mozi text, whose principles are still very much present in modern times.
How did kites help the Chinese military?
Kites played a role in providing intelligence for Chinese military forces. Kites were first made to measure distances, providing information to aid moving large armies across difficult terrain. They were used to calculate and record wind readings, similar to ship flags at sea. 3.
Why are kites important to Chinese culture?
Skeleton of a Hard-winged kite. Kites are important in Chinese celebrations because they are decorative and festive, representing Chinese culture. Designs on the kites, such as shapes and colors, all have different meanings and symbolisms.
What does a hard winged kite represent?
The body is often adorned with feathers. Hard-winged kites usually represent winged animals, from insects to birds, while soft-winged kites have rigid upper rims only, allowing the material on the lower section of the kite to flow along with the wind.
How many kites are there in Weifang?
The kite museum in Weifang displays 2,000 kites from around the world through 12 gallery rooms covering 2,000 square meters. We suggest about an hour to go through the museum and take in the models and kites from both ancient China as well as samples from around the world.
What type of kites are used in China?
There are many types of Chinese kites: centipede, hard-wing, soft-wing, and flat. Centipede kites are the quintessential, iconic, and immensely popular kite forms used in China, with their complex design they look like centipedes but with a dragon's head. The body is often adorned with feathers.
Why are kites red?
As always, red is a color often found on kites in China because this is one of the colors associated with good luck. 6. Kites were used to drive off bad luck. Historical accounts detail the use of kites during the Qing dynasty (1644–1912), when spirituality and superstitions were rife, to drive off personal bad luck.
How long is a dragon kite?
In 2015, a 6,000-meter long dragon kite was flown in Chongqing a the Chongqing International Kite Festival by professional flyers from Weifang. This kite then broke the Guinness World Record for the longest kite flown, for which the previous record was 5,000 meters.
What Did the Chinese Use Kites For?
During the earlier periods, the kites were designed to look like a bird in natural flight and were used for military purposes. They gathered vital information that was used to plan battles. For instance, the kites measured distances which proved to be useful information especially for moving large armies across rough terrain. They were also used as messages such that when soldiers saw them flying, they would understand the meaning. By the reign of the Tang dynasty, however, most people started using it for pleasure.
How did kites get made in China?
In Ancient China, the making of kites involved three main stages. The first stage was framing, which involved creating the frame of the kite using light wood like bamboo. The second stage was gluing, where the paper or silk was attached to the kite frame. Finally, the last stage involved decorating the kite with color, flowers, and calligraphy.
who invented kites in ancient china?
The kite was said to be the invention of the famous 5th century BC Chinese philosophers Mozi and Lu Ban.
How To Make Chinese Kites?
The simplest Chinese kite will normally require bamboo and paper to make. To build your own Chinese Kite, follow these simple steps:
What dynasty was the kite flying?
By the Tang dynasty, the kites that had evolved were too light to be used during the war. As such kite making became a form of art, where artists used them as a unique artistic expression. They decorated them with flowers, different colors, and calligraphy lettering. Such kites were expensive to acquire and so only noble families and those in the upper class were known to fly them for recreational purposes. By the Qing dynasty and from then on, kite flying became a popular recreation done during celebrations, especially the Chinese New Year and Spring festival, when it was believed to bring good luck. Although the silk-decorated kites were expensive, the commoners used paper kites, and so kite flying became popular across all social classes.
Why did the Han Dynasty use kites?
From the Han dynasty, kites were also used to call for help. When the then Chinese capital Nanking was blocked during the 2 nd Sino-Japanese war, the people of Nanking flew kites as a sign of asking for help from their neighbors. The emperor of the Liang dynasty Wudi is also reported to have used a kite to call for help when he was surrounded by rebels at Taicheng Nanjing.
Why are kites made of birds?
In the past, kites were made to be in the shape of birds because it was believed that it was the best shape for flight. They were also mostly used for military purposes and wind calculations in the past. As time passed, however, kite designs evolved to shapes of different creatures including dragons and other Chinese Zodiac animals. The making of kites also became more of an art form and flying them was seen more as recreational.
What instrument did the Chinese use to make kites?
The Chinese went on to develop the musical kites which were fitted with bamboo pipes that would sound random musical notes as the wind gathered momentum. The comparison of this kite design to the zheng, a stringed instrument, is responsible for the common use of the word ‘fengzheng’ for kite throughout China.
Why were kites made?
The kites took on a more elaborate design during the Chu-Han War (203-202 BC), to spy on enemy positions and deliver urgent messages. During the rule of the Tang Dynasty (618-907 AD), kites were made from lighter materials such as bamboo, silk and paper, for aesthetic appeal and to herald in the Chinese New Year.
What are Chinese dragon kites made of?
The Chinese Dragon kites are very popular, along with other designs that emulate birds and other mythical beasts. Chinese kites are now made with silk draped over a split bamboo frame . Clever hinge designs and concealed latches allow large kites to be disassembled. Modern Chinese kites are also designed with printed polyester over delicate metal wire frames, decorated with spin-socks, spinners and streamers for additional visual appeal.
What are some of the most important inventions of China?
With a history of dynasties and city-states, this cultural hub of Asian invention flaunts a number of 'firsts', including the invention of paper, kite and the compass.
What dynasty did the Chinese fly kites?
All through the reign of Emperor Wu of Liang and those of Tang and Jin Dynasty monarchs, accounts of kite-flying for military signaling and as a pastime have been documented. The earlier versions of the Chinese kite are immortalized in the murals of Dunhuang and Song and Ming texts. The history of Chinese kites spans across thousands of years, surviving through a well-developed literary tradition.
When was the kite invented?
The earliest mention of a kite in ancient China dates back to the 5th century BC. This cultural symbol earned a mention in the ancient Mozi text documented by the Chinese philosopher and engineer Lu Ban. Interestingly, he mentions ‘a wooden bird that remained in flight for three days’. The description goes on to specify the use of the Chinese kite as a rescue signal, when the city-state of Nanjing was seized by Hou Jing.
What is the Chinese culture?
Chinese culture is rife with beliefs and superstitions, that relate to kites and the act of kite-flying. It is believed that letting go of the kite string spells, riddance of back luck or illness, while picking up one lost by someone ushers in bad luck!
Why were kites used in the 19th century?
During the 19th century, kites were used not only for scientific purposes like studying weather and understanding the atmosphere but for lifting (lifting objects like cameras, thermometers, and people) and traction (using kites to pull things like carriages).
What was the use of kites in the 18th century?
METEOROLOGICAL AND SCIENTIFIC USES. In the 18th century, kites continued to increase in popularity among children. However, it was the use of kites by physicists and meteorologists that spurred the development of kites for scientific purposes.
What did the Wright brothers learn about kites?
One day while flying box kites at Kitty Hawk, the brothers discovered that the kites provided enough lift to be able to lift a man off the ground.
How much weight can a Bell tetrahedral kite lift?
Bell’s tetrahedral kite would eventually be used to lift as much as 288 pounds and would be the basis of future powered “aerodromes.”
What did the Wright brothers discover about the warping of the wings?
They discovered that by varying the position of the four lines attached near the kite’s extremities, they could simulate the twisting of the wings of a soaring bird. This twisting they called wing-warping lateral control, a method that was to characterize Wright’s airplane for years to come.
Why did Han Hsin fly a kite?
The Chinese General Han Hsin of the Han Dynasty flew a kite over the walls of a city he was attacking to measure how far his army would have to tunnel to reach past the defenses. By the 13 th Century, kite flying had spread by traders from China to Korea and across Asia to India and the Middle East.
When did kites spread?
Kite flying spread throughout Europe between 14th and 15th Centuries with mentions by Vasco da Gama, Giovanni Della Porta, and William Shakespeare. Sailors also brought kites back from Japan and Malaysia in the 16th and 17th centuries. Kites were regarded as curiosities at first and had little impact on European culture.
