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Is China the birthplace of the kite? Perhaps not: expert opinion has swung toward the island cultures of the Pacific, with their functional leaf kites for fishing. Nonetheless, the Chinese kite culture is ancient and still extraordinarily vibrant. It is thought that Chinese kites were first used militarily: legends tell how General Han Xin used the height of his kite to estimate the distance to an enemy's palace, and thus the length of the tunnel he must dig to invade. On other occasions kites were used to frighten enemy troops or signal allies for help. Kites—all sorts of birds (especially the Beijing sand swallow), insects, fish, frogs, crabs, tigers, dragons, and mythological figures—then began to be flown during religious ceremonies and for pleasure, primarily from November through Qingming in early April. Kites for the wealthy had intricate bamboo frames and elaborately painted silken sails; cheaper kites were made of paper. Like kites from Japan, Chinese kites now come in all sizes, from microminiature to enormous. The Chinese are also noted for their kite trains, such as the Dragon-headed Centipede and the Geese-in-V-Formation. Traditional kites are still constructed by master kite makers, the skill passed down within families. But China also provides most of the world's commercial kites, from inexpensive toys to elaborate sport kites sewn to exacting standards. Weifang in Shandong Province lays claim to the title International Kite Capital, but several other cities in China also put on well-attended festivals. Articles
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