The kites were invented by the Chinese people about two thousand years ago, it was probably during the twelfth century that the Chinese Kites were introduced to the Western countries, and as can be predicted by those who loves kites and would like to learn Chinese in China that the kites had been under continuous development after its afferent to the west.
The unique eastern and western kite cultures had been gradually developed with respective characteristics, kites-lovers who are ready to come to study Chinese in China may also be amazed by the Chinese kite culture, which is a well combination of the long history of Chinese culture and the workmanship of kites.
Kites-lovers who’d love to study Mandarin in China may find it amusing that the Chinese kites are mostly decorated with patterns of legends, fairy-tales, birds, flowers, animals and auspicious motifs on them, which had contributed to its uniqueness in the workmanship of kites.
Kite-lovers who’s like to learn Chinese in China may be wondering about the functions of the kites in ancient China, the functions of the kites had been transformed several times in the Chinese history, according to Chinese historical records, the kites were primarily adopted in military and during the Mid-Tang Dynasty, the major function of the kites had shifted into the amusement due to the stability and prosperity of the society.
It is also noteworthy for readers who’d like to study Chinese in China that due to the development of the papermaking of the Tang Dynasty, the kites started to replace silver with the paper as its material, and it got diversified development since its being introduced to the ordinary people.
The workmanship of kites received further development during the Song Dynasty, due to its further circulation and the widely participation within the literati, and the manufacturing techniques and ornaments were renovated too, what’s note-worthy for readers who’d love to study Mandarin in China, the kite-making had evolved to be a profession owing to the increasing demand for kites in the society.
The Qing and Ming Dynasties could be regarded to be the heyday of the kite development, there had been considerable leaps in the size, style, techniques, ornaments, and flying skills. For readers who have had been longing to learn Chinese in China must be amaze by the social phenomenon that the literates would send their gifts to their friends and relatives with their hand-made kites, and considering it as a quite graceful and tasteful activity.
What’s special for kites-lovers who’d love to study Chinese in China is that the Kites-making enterprise has had been under continuous development in China and the kites-flying had been incorporated into the Sports Training Project as well as a fitness entertainment activity.
Readers who take great interest in the workmanship of kites and would love to study Mandarin in China may be eager to know the procedures in kites-making. Well, the workmanship of kites includes four major techniques, which are tying, pasting, painting and flying, with special attentions been paid to the particulars in the whole process.
The kite should be tied symmetrically balanced, which enables the equal proportions of side wind area; the pasting process would pay due attention to the smoothness and neatness; as to the painting process, kites-lovers who’d like to learn Chinese in China must pay attention to obtain of “A clear image from afar, the life-like vividness while drawing near”.
As to the choosing of kites, here is a tip to be shared with kite flying enthusiasts who’d love to study Chinese in China, there are mainly two categories of kites on sale, namely the hard-winged kites and the soft-winged kites, the hard-winged kites can support themselves in heavy wind are more resistant to the winds, they tend to fly higher than others, while the kites with soft wings cannot fly too high, but can fly far away.
As to the patterns of the kites, besides from the traditional patterns of animals, insects, birds and fish, it is note-worthy for readers who’d love to study Mandarin in China that the modern society had developed figure kites for your options. And due to the variations in regional features and local cultures, the workmanship of kites in China had been divided into different schools and genres, among which the kites made in Beijing, Tianjin, Weifang, Sichuan and Guangzhou are most widely well-received.