JAKARTA - Kite turns out to be not just a children's toy in the open field. In China, this simple object that rises because of the wind has a history of 2,400 years, has been used for military affairs, helped build bridges, and then grew into an industry worth billions of yuan.
As reported by China Daily, Friday, April 24, kites are among the oldest human-made flying objects. Their origin is traced back to China at the end of the Spring and Autumn Period, around 770-476 BC. At that time, the original shape was called "wooden bird" and was used for military signals and measuring distances.
Major changes occurred after paper was discovered during the Eastern Han Dynasty. The kite became lighter, cheaper, and easier to make. From a weapon of war, it slowly turned into a recreational object and a work of art.
The kite once served in Niagara Falls in 1847. As reported by China Daily, when engineers wanted to build a suspension bridge, they needed an initial rope to cross the gorge. The solution was not a heavy machine, but a kite race.
A teenager named Homan Walsh managed to fly a kite across the abyss. From the thread, a larger rope and a bridge cable were then pulled.
In Weifang, Shandong Province, kites are not a job of origin. The tradition knows 36 steps, from making the frame, installing the coating, painting, to the test flight. If you make a mistake, the kite can wobble.
The frame is made from strong and flexible bamboo. The lining can be silk, paper, or synthetic materials. The motifs often take the style of folk art, such as bats, peonies, and dragons. In 2006, the Weifang kite-making skills were recognized as China's National Intangible Cultural Heritage.
Another uniqueness appears in Nantong, Jiangsu Province. The banyao kite is known for being able to whistle, thanks to a small bamboo flute attached to its body. On the other hand, there are craftsmen who make micro kites with a diameter of 2 centimeters. The tip of the finger is small, but it can still fly.
Every spring, Weifang holds an International Kite Festival. According to China Daily, the festival, which began in 1984, attracted participants from more than 50 countries. The shape is various. From a 300-meter-long dragon, flying cars, to giant octopuses.
Kite-flying is also an economic engine. According to the same report, Weifang has more than 600 kite companies, employing around 80,000 workers, and recording annual sales of more than 2 billion yuan or around 278 million US dollars. At a rate of around Rp16,200 per US dollar on April 23, that value is equivalent to approximately Rp4.5 trillion.
Wangjiazhuangzi village even grew into a production center. More than half of its residents work in the kite industry. Its products are exported to more than 50 countries.
Indonesia also has a tradition of kite flying in various regions. However, the scale of the industry and its management is not as large as that in Weifang, China.
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