origin of kite 

     Kites were once called Zhiyuan in North China and Yaozi in South China.The name "Fengzheng" came into use during the Five Dynasties(907---960AD).According to the book Xun Chu Lu by lang Ying of the Ming Dynasty,Li Ye,who lived in the Five Dynasties,used to make and fly kites in the imperial court.He once attached a whistle made of bamboo to the upper part of his kite so that a "zheng" sound was let out when the kite was flying.This was how the Chinese name for kite originated.

    How the kite was invented?It was thought that is was our ancestors who were inspired by either wind blowing bamboo hat or leaves of trees;or sails of tents;or a flying bird.There are so many contradictory views that it is difficult to decide which is right.But it is universally acknowledged that the first kite flew into the air from China.Mo Di(468--376 BC).a famous philosopher of ancient China,once lived on Mount Lu (now the southeaset of Qingzhou,Weifang),wherehe made an eagle with wood in three years.He managed to fly it for one day,This was the earliest kite in the world,which went back as far as 2300 years ago.Later,he passed on his skill to his student,Gongshu Ban(later referred to as Lu Ban).On basis of Mo Dis,Gongshu ban got his own improved.He made a magpie out of bamboo,which flew into the air for as long as three days.Gongshu Ban also used his kite to undertake reconnissance missions.Early Chinese kites were employed to relay informaion,to servery the force and direction of wind as well.According to the book Du Yi Zhi,Emperor Wu Di of Liang Dynasty,was encircled by Hou Jing,a traitor in Taicheng,Nanjing in 549 A D.Jian Nu put forth a plan to fly a paper kite,in which an imperial edict was hidden,asking for reinforcement.The kite was unfortunately shot down by the encircling soldiers.Thus the plan was failed.

    Kites came into exstence in China as means of amusement probably in the Tang Dynasty,It was said that Emperor Xuan Zong(his real name was Li Hongji) once enjoyed watching a kite called "Eight lmmortals Crossing the Sea" flying in the air in Yichun Courtyard,penglai Palace Shangdong.The book Xuan He Feng Zheng Pu refers to similar events which Chinese emperors and aristocrats enjoyed and watched kites flying.Later,due to the invention of paper,making kites cost less,thus made it possible to spread quickly among the ordingary people.As time went on ,kites flew to various countries of the world. The famous bristist,Dr.Needham in his book A history of China'-s Science and Technology describes kites as one of the major scientific inventions spread to Europe by China.A foreign kite spoecialist said,"It is universally acknowledged that it was the Chinese who invented the kite 2000 years ago.kite aroused man's idea to fly in the sky,which led to the invention of the first airplane of the world."

History of Kite

Kites were once called Zhiyuan in North China and Yaozi in South China.The name "Feng-zheng" came unto use during the Five Dynasties (907-960 AD).According to the book Xun Chu Lu by lang Ying of the Ming Dynasty,Li Ye,who lived in the Five Dynasties,used to make and fly kites in the imperial court.He once attached a shistle made of bamboo to the upper part of his kite so that a "zheng" sound was let out when the kite was flying.This ws how the Chinese name for kite lriginated.

How the kite was invented?It was thought that it was our ancestors who were inspired by either wind blowing bamboo hat or leaves of trees;or sails or thets;or a flying bird.There are so many contradictory views that it is difficult to decide shich is right.But it is universally acknowledged that the first flew into the air from China .Mo Di(468---376 BC),a famous philosopher of ancient China,once lived on Mount Lu(now the southeast of Qingzhou,Weifang),where he made an eagle with wood in three years.He managed to fly it for one day.This was the earliest kite in the world.which went back as for as 2,300 years ago.Later,he passed on his skill to his student.Gongshu Ban(later referred to as lu Ban).On basis of Mo Di's,Gongshu Ban got his own improved.He made a magpie out of bamboo,which flew into the air for as long as three days.Gongshu Ban also used his kite to undertake reconnaissance missions.Early Chinese kites were employed to relay information.to servey theforce and direction of wind as well.According to the book Du Yi Zhi,Emperor Wu Di of Liang Dynasty,was encircled by Hou Jing,a traitor in Taicheng,Nanjing in 549 A D.Jian Nu put forth a plan to fly a paper kite,in which an imperial edict was hidden,asking for reinforcement.The kite was unfortunately shot down by the encircling soldiers.Thus the plan was failed.

Kites came into existence in China as means of amusement probably in the TANG Dynasty.It was said that Emperor Xuan Zong(his rial name was Li Longji) once enjoyed watching a kite called "Eight Lmmortals Crossing the Sea" flying in the air in Yichun Courtyard,Penglai Palace,Shangdong.The book Xuan He Feng Zheng Pu refers to similar events which Chiese emperors and aristocrats enjoyed and watched kites flying.later,due tothe invention of paper,making kites cost less,thus made it possible to spread quickly among the ordinary people.As time went on,kites flew to various countries of the world.

The Famous british scientist,Dr.Needham in his book A history of China'-s Science and Technology describes kites as one of the major scientific inventions spread to Europe by Chine.A foreign kite specialist said,"It is universally acknowledged that it was the Chineae who invented the kite 2,000 years ago.kite aroused man's idea to fly in the sky,which led to the invention of the first airplane of the world."

The Birth of"the Kite capital of the World"

    The Birth of"the Kite capital of the World to the kite organizations throughout the world and received a number of calls in support of the proposal.At the presidium meeting of the 5th Weifang International Kite festival on Apr.1st,1988,Mr.David Chocolate,the Chairman of the Seattle Kite Association who was well-known in the American kite circles ,read out The Proposal of Electing Weifang as the Kite Capital of the World in which he spoke highly of the long history and consummate skills of Weifang kites and the contributions the city had made for the worldwide development of kite as a sport and toutism program.The delegates from many countries unanimously agreed on the proposal and signed their names on it. Tht is how Weifang was elected the "the Kite Capital of the World".

The International Kite federation

    The International Kite federation,an international folk organization,wsa established in Weifang,China on Apr.1sh,1989.The delegates from 16 countries and regions attended the first conference of the organization,at which the Chairman,Vice-chairman,secretary-general and chief board members were elected and the Regulations of the International Kite Federation were made.With the approval of the State Council of the People's Republic of China,the headquarters of the IKF were decided to be set up in Weifang,the Kite Capital of the World.

    The founding of the IKF meant the appearance of the leading organization and activity center of the world's kite cause.It has greatly contributed to developing the world's kite acuse,promoting the friendship among the countries throughout the world and bringing about world peace.

 

Chinese kite     Kites in China have a long history. Historical records show that the first kite was made in the Spring and Autumn Period. But it was not a pleasure kite. It was a wooden kite made for military purposes. Paper kites appeared later.     Kite is used in military once it is invented. It has showed the importance, limitation sometimes though, on reconnaissance, propaganda, communication, etc. Ancient militarists used it for hundreds of years. "Be besieged on all sides" In 202 B.C., Liu Bang, Han Emperor, led on 300,000 soldiers surrounded Xiang Yu, Chu Emperor, which broke out the war between them. When Xiang Yu was worried about being lack of food and reinforcements, General Han Xin , under Emperor Liu Bang, made a kite and let a light soldier sit on it and flew up to sky and sang songs. The favorable wind brought the singing down to the Chu army on the ground. Xiang Yu was shocked and the soldier's minds was disturbed. He failed to break through and committed suicide.     It is also said that, in Han Dynasty, General Han Xin used a kite as a tool to survey. During the time of LiangwuDi Emperor, it was used for sending messages to each other. Unfortunately, it didn’t work well. Mr Zhang of Tang Dynasty took advantage of kite to send signals successfully for help as he was surrounded by the enemy.     From Tang Dynasty, gradually, kites were regarded as toys. By the time of Qing Dynasty, flying kites were getting more popular. It is said that Cixi sent an eunuch to Tianjin for “Kite Wei" to make a kite named “The God of Longevity on the back of the crane for her. Three big kites were collected in the Imperial Palace, which were flown by Fu Yi. That is to say, kites have reached a pretty high level at that time.     The art of Chinese kite develops endlessly with the long history of cultural traditions of the nation. Each has its strong point due to the rich and colorful zone culture. It has a strong affinity with each historical periods and various zone; and firmly relates with the music, dance, drama, folk-custom and religion of each individual folk. It has formed various art system and genre as time goes by. Generally, six kinds: Beijing kite, Weifang kite, Tianjin kite, Nantong kite, Jiangnan kite, Taiwan kite.     Folding kites have a flexible tenon bamboo frame-work secured with glue instead of thread, and reinforced by a copper ring at every joint. Kites, one to three metres long, in the forms of aeroplanes, birds, animals or human figures can be folded up and packed in a 30 cm box in a large envelope for easy carrying or mailing. In 1915, "Wei Yuantai" kites own a gold medal and a certificate of merit at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco, USA. In April of each year the Weifang International Kite Festival is held in Shandong Province. Kite lovers from all over the world come to Weifang with their specially made kites to compete and take part in the festivities.     Kites made in Tianjin, Beijing and Weifang are more superior among many styles. Beijing is also famous for kite making. With large variety in shape, Beijing kites, which are made of paper or silk and painted totally by hand, have a good market reputation home and abroad. The most experienced craftsman in Beijing, named Fei Baolin, has developed several hundred kinds of kites in different shapes and sizes. The smallest is as small as the palm of your hand. Weifang in Shandong province also is famous for its kite making and flying customs. Each year, Weifang International Kite Festival is held in April, and kiteflying from all over the world will take part in and compete in the festivity.