Kite making skills

Zhejiang
🎧  Listen to Introduction

Kites were first called "wooden kites" or "paper kites". After being made, they were tied with ropes and released into the sky with the wind. According to legend, they were the earliest "aircraft" and "reconnaissance devices" invented by Gongshu Ban in the Spring and Autumn Period of my country. In the Five Dynasties, bamboo whistles were tied to paper kites and released. Because the wind entered the bamboo whistle, the sound was like the sound of a zither, so they were also called "kites". Li Shangyin, a poet in the Tang Dynasty, praised them as "the kites were flying fast in the west wind all night". However, they are commonly called "kites" in our area. There is a folk proverb that says: "In the first month, people eat melon seeds, and in the second month, little naughty children fly kites". Therefore, kites have become a kind of folk toy and an art work with appreciation value. For thousands of years, kite makers have been very common in all dynasties. Zhuangqiao Street in this district is one of the places where folk kite making is concentrated. Not only do many families make them, but there are also folk organizations. The kites made are of extremely high quality and distinctive features in terms of skills and shapes. In recent years, they have won the first prize and production skills award in the town-level and city-level competitions they have participated in. The kite-making process may seem simple, but it actually contains many scientific principles. Otherwise, no matter how beautiful your kite is, it will not fly into the sky. First, you need to use good materials, usually bamboo pieces or strips with strong toughness, and make a skeleton according to the kite pattern. Then, thin paper or silk and other light materials are used to paste and shape the kite. Finally, paint and other auxiliary materials are used to draw and make the kite before it can be released. The name of the kite depends on the shape. Various animals, plants, people and even objects can be used as the subject matter and name of the kite. Now many local children are also learning this craft, and there is no problem in inheritance.

Intangible culture related to the heritage

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