Kites
Kites (风筝; fēnɡ zhenɡ), praised as the forerunners of modern aircrafts, are quite popular among Chinese people of all ages. On a sunny spring day, look up at the sky above any square in town and you’ll see that it’s full of kites, in a rainbow of colors and a variety of shapes and sizes.
Originating in China, kites have had different usages throughout the country’s long history. In the Han Dynasty (202 B.C.-220 A.D.), kites were used during the Chu-Han Contention for military purposes. During that time, large kites with whistles were made and flown at night over the Chu camp, creating a distinctive noise meant to break the morale of the group.
During the Northern and Southern Dynasties (420-589 A.D.), a kite was once used as a signal for help. It was recorded that when Emperor Wu of Liang was captured and the city where he lived was surrounded, some of his fellows made a kite and flew it high as a signal to those outside the city that they needed help. Before long, however, the enemy surrounding the city spotted the kite and shot it down. The Emperor and his fellows starved to death inside the city.
In the Song Dynasty (960-1276 A.D.), kites were used for another purpose. During that time, people began flying kites on Tomb-sweeping Day, cutting the string once it was in the air to represent the release of any bad luck from the previous year.
Today, the flying of kites is mostly considered to be a form of entertainment or a good physical outdoor activity. In Weifang, China, a city famous for its kites, the International Kite Festival is held annually from the 20th to the 25th of April, attracting thousands of kite-lovers from both China and abroad. Visitors to the festival can not only enjoy the art of the kites, but also learn kite-flying techniques and compete in kite-flying competitions.
