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Kites-Art and Beauty on a String
 Swallows, centipedes, butterflies, mock aircraft and all manner of other beautifully crafted designs ... when so many kites crowd the sky over Beijing; you know that spring has arrived.
Kites have a history of more than 2,000 years in China. In the Han Dynasty (202BC-AD220), General Han Xin used kites for measuring land, while Emperor Liangwu used them to carry messages. In the South and North Dynasty, a man attached a kite to his back and jumped from a high structure. Luckily, this early version of a parachute got him safely to ground without injury. And the Tang Dynasty saw kites used by the military for various exercises.
 There are more than 200 fundamental designs of the kite, many of which have become so sophisticated that they qualify as art. One superb model from Beijing is in the form of swallow made more realistic by its ability to fly almost like the bird itself. Versions of this kite swallow include fat, slim, baby and couple - symbolizing different types of human babies. Vivid decorations have long been the features of kites, many created by famous Chinese artists who apply depictions of flowers, animals and even bats which call for long life, wealth and happiness.
Weifang City in Shangdong Province is particularly famous for its international kite festival, which attracts hundreds and thousands of kite fans from home and abroad every year.
Tianjin, Nantong City in Jiangsu Province and Guangdong Province are also places where beautiful local kites are well known to people nationwide or even worldwide.
Kite-flying is a healthy outdoor activity whose enthusiasts in China number in the millions. The rush of kites now appearing above Beijing is seen by many people as flying bad luck away. But even if you are not into the exertions of the hobby, you can hardly fail to agree that just watching them brings enormous pleasure.
2004-11-10 12:13 |
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