The Origin and Original Use of Kites

The origin of kites can be traced back to the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period more than 2,000 years ago. Due to the needs of war, the ancients used birds as shapes and wood as materials to make "wooden kites" that could fly in the air. Later, Lu Ban used bamboo to improve the materials of kites in Mo Zhai, and even evolved into today's multi-line kites.

The original use of kites: communication and detective in war, can be used as a weapon to carry gunpowder to attack.

Extended data

There are four legends about the origin of kites. First, the hat and the leaves say; Second, sailing boats and tents; Third, the bird said; Fourth, Ye Li said. But the conclusion that kites originated in China is universally acknowledged.

1. The theory of hats and leaves

It is said that a farmer was plowing the field when a strong wind suddenly rolled up his hat. The farmer ran after him and grabbed the tether. It happened that the tether was very long and the hat flew in the air like a kite. The farmer thought it was very interesting. He often put hats on the villagers in the future, and later he turned into flying kites.

2. Sailing boats and tents

Legend has it that there were sails on ships in the Yu era, and sails were mechanical princesses with the help of the wind. People imitate the principle of sailing, tie kites and fly them. It is also said that kites originated from tents in the north. The earliest kites were made by people imitating the phenomenon of strong winds blowing tents in the air, and later gradually evolved into an entertainment activity.

3. The bird said

The first kites came out, inspired by birds, made and named after them. According to China's historical material "On Han Feizi's Foreign Storage", in Julu Mountain, Mo Zhai, "the ash tree is a kite, which took three years to form and lost in one day." Mozi studied for three years, and finally made a wooden bird out of wood, but it broke after only one day's flight. This Muharier made by Mozi is the earliest kite in China.

4. Ye Li said

Kites were invented by Ye Li in the Five Dynasties. I saw this article written by Chen Yi in the Ming Dynasty in "Exploring Kites": In the Five Dynasties, Ye Li made a kite in the palace to guide the way and ride the wind. Behind the bow of a kite, the bamboo is the flute, which makes the wind enter the bamboo, like singing a kite, hence the name kite.

References:

Baidu encyclopedia-kite