Kites from China
Chinese Kites - A Quick History
For
thousands of years, kites from China have been flying high
in the sky.
Chinese kites originally
were developed and designed by a Chinese philosopher.
He spent three years designing the first version of the
kites. These kites were used by the Imperial military
forces in China. The kites proved very useful to
members of the Chinese military elite for years.
Eventually, the Chinese Imperial family took a personal
interest in those kites. The Imperial family
commissioned artisans and craftsmen to create their own
kites. In time, many historians maintain that the
Chinese Imperial family became addicted to kites and to
kite flying. Indeed, kite flying became the primary
pastime of nearly all members of the Chinese Imperial
family.
In time, paper was invented in China. Not long after
paper was invented, paper and Chinese kites were wed.
The connection between paper and kites proved to be very
important. After the joining of paper and kites,
China kites became widely available to people throughout
Imperial China. Everyone form the Emperor and his
family to commoners in rural provinces took up kite flying
with a vengeance.
Eventually, visitors from the British Empire made their way
into China. These travelers encountered Chinese kites
for the first time. They took those Chinese kites
back with them to London. The British Army adopted
the kites from China for their own use and purposes.
Chinese kites and their progeny spread throughout the
British Empire. At the time, the British Empire was
enormous. Indeed, it was said that the sun never sets
on the British Empire -- a true fact. Millions of people
the world over were introduced to kite flying.
In today’s world. China kites remain ever popular.
Millions of people in countries everywhere enjoy kite
flying as a hobby and wonderful pastime. People in
countries everywhere take to kite flying with regularity --
including countries as diverse as China, Mexico and
Afghanistan.
In addition to flying Chinese kites for fun, many people
have taken to kite flying far more seriously. Stunt
kite flying and kite flying for sport and competition has
become widely undertaken all over the world.