In the world of kites, most agree that kites began in China. When that first kite was flown is a mystery, but one legend suggests that when a Chinese farmer tied a string to his hat to keep it from blowing away in a strong wind, the first kite was born. Another theory suggests that to make a high official's banner more visible, it was strengthened with a bamboo frame and flown. Or it may have been inspired by observing the wind-filled sails of fishing boats - the sail has been used in China for 3000 years. Perhaps the earliest kites consisted of a huge leaf attached to a long string - there is a type of Asian leaf that is ideal as a kite.

The earliest Chinese kites were made of wood and called muyuan (wooden kites); they date as far back as the Warring States Period (475-221 B.C.). After the invention of paper, about 104 A.D., kites began to be made of this new material called zhiyuan (paper kites).

Possibly the earliest kite in the world, of which there is written record, was made by Mo-tse, a famous Chinese philosopher and scientist, who lived 2500 years ago. According to the “Bigraphy of Mr Hanfei", Mo-tse lived on Lu Mountain in the area of what is now Qingzhou in Shandong Province "By cutting wood into a fly it took him three years. One day of fly in the sky, then he failed." Meaning Mo-tse spent three years making an eagle kite of wood and managed to fly it for a day until it broke. The eagle later was regarded as the first kite in the world. Another early written account of kite flying was about 200 B.C. when the Chinese General Han Hsin of the Han Dynasty (206BC - 220AD) flew a kite over the walls of a city he was attacking to measure how far his army would have to tunnel to reach past the defenses. Knowing this distance his troops reached the inside of the city, surprised their enemy, and were victorious. Early kites were used for military purposes. Historical records say they were large in size; some were powerful enough to carry men up in the air to observe enemy movements, and others were used to scatter propaganda leaflets over hostile forces. According to the Records of Strange Events (Du Yi Zhi), an ancient work, when Xiao Yan, Emperor Wudi (464-549) of the Liang Dynasty, was surrounded at Taicheng, Nanjing by the rebel troops under Hou Jing, he used a kite to send out a message for help.

During the Tang Dynasty (618-907), people began to fix on kites some bamboo strips which, when high in the air, would vibrate and ring in the breeze like a zheng (a stringed instrument). Since then, the popular Chinese name for the kite has become fengzheng (wind zheng). The kites made today in certain localities are fixed with silk strings or rubber bands to give out pleasant ringing in the wind. Kite flying became a recreation during the Tang Dynasty when the royal family and aristocrats became addicted to it. It was said that the Emperor Xuanzong in the Tang Dynasty once was deeply attracted by a kite named Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, when he saw it flying in the air. The invention of paper decreased the cost of kites, so they quickly spread among the common people. As time went on, kites were flown throughout the world.

From the late Tang Dynasty and during the Song Dynasty, Chinese kites began to spread towards the whole world, beginning with Japan, Korea, and the countries of Southeast Asia. By the time of Song Dynasty, kites had evolved greatly in terms of variety and capability and were widely incorporated in people’s lives.

By the time of Qing Dynasty, flying kites were getting more popular. It is said that Cixi sent an eunuch to Tianjin for “Kite Wei" to make a kite named “The God of Longevity on the back of the crane for her. Three big kites were collected in the Imperial Palace, which were flown by Fu Yi. That is to say, kites have reached a pretty high level at that time.

Kite making is a traditional Chinese folk handicraft. Kites made in Tianjin, Beijing and Weifang are considered superior to other styles.

Tianjin is well known for its kite making and the most famous craftsman in Tianjin was Wei Yuantai, nicknamed Kite Wei. He made kites for more than 70 years. The first kite made in China was a butterfly or eagle kite with a rigid framework. The selection of materials was limited and the craftsmanship was clumsy. Kite Wei developed some 200 kites with many new structures and designs, such as flat hard-winged, soft-winged, three-dimensioned and foldaway kites, being the most noticeable. It has a flexible bamboo tendon framework secured with glue instead of thread, and reinforced by a copper ring at every joint. Kites, up to three meters long can be folded and held in a very small box. More than fifty kinds of kites made by Wei have been exhibited at home and abroad. In 1915, Wei Yuantai kites won a gold medal and a certificate of merit at the Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco. Wei's kites have obvious attributes, such as fine craftsmanship, vivid appearance and good balance. Later generations of Wei inherited and developed these strong points. Wei Yonghang, the third generation of Wei Yuantai, developed more than 50 new designs based of old Wei designs.

Beijing is also famous for kite making. With a large variety of shapes, Beijing kites are made of paper or silk and painted totally by hand, have a good market reputation at home and abroad. The most experienced craftsman in Beijing is Fei Baolin, who developed several hundred kinds of kites in different shapes and sizes. The smallest is able to fit in the palm of the hand.

Weifang in Shandong province also is famous for its kite making and flying customs. Each year, Weifang International Kite Festival is held in April, and kite enthusiasts from all over the world take part and compete in the festival.

PAN Kites Factory
Located in Weifang, Shandong Province, World renowned Weifang PAN kites making factory is one of the largest and most representative kites enterprises in China. This site has considerable historical information along with interesting kite legends and stories. It also has some good pictures.

The Kiteman
My web site is intended for everyone, for those who know nothing at all about kites, kite enthusiasts, students seeking information for projects, etc, A guide through the history and origins of the kite, from its early beginnings in the Far East to its spread across Asia and introduction into Europe.

History of Chinese Kites
with Respect to WeiFang, the Capital City of Kites. An interesting history from a German site. All texts have been translated to conserve diction and style of the chinese original, thus to illustrate the differences to western style of kiteing.