Chinese Kites: An Illustrated Step-by-Step Guide

by Bin Liu, Xifa Shi (Text by)

Overview

Learn to build and fly your own authentic traditional chinese kites with this user-friendly crafts book.

Kites and China are practically synonymous, since these childhood toys were originally invented there before becoming popular around the world. For over 2000 years, kites have been a common sight in China, from the imperial court to the common people, and over that time period the craftsmanship of the kite has been perfected—and includes a diversity and richness of styles.

In Chinese Kites, you'll learn not only the history and varied forms of the Chinese kite, but also how to produce, step-by-step, a beautiful Chinese kite of your own! Learn how to 1)create the kite's framework Paint colorful designs; 2)master the techniques of putting the painted cover on the framework; 3)fly your creation!

With Chinese Kites, you will be able to experience firsthand the joy of seeing a kite you made soaring across the sky.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781602200142
Publisher:	Shanghai Press
Publication date:	10/07/2014
Edition description:	1st Edition, Hardcover with Jacket
Pages:	152
Product dimensions:	7.30(w) x 10.30(h) x 0.80(d)

About the Author

Liu Bin, born in 1977, is a member of the Beijing Kite Flying Association and a transmitter of the Cao-Style Kite, which has been named an "Intangible Cultural Heritage" item in China. In 2005 he established Liu's Sanshizhai (Three-Stone Room) Kite Culture Center (www.bjkites.com) in Beijing. Liu Bin has benefited from working with masters, first his grandfather Liu Huiren, who he followed since childhood, then Tang Jinkun in 2006, and in 2009 Kong Lingmin.

Table of Contents

Foreword Kong Lingmin 9

Preface Kites and I 11

Introduction 15

1 Types 15

2 Aesthetics 22

3 Regional Differences 28

Chapter 1 A Historical Overview of Kites 33

1 Early Days 33

2 Period of Growing Popularity 34

3 Golden Age 36

4 Modern Times 38

Chapter 2 Tools and Materials for Kita Making 43

1 The Frame 43

Materials for the Frame 43

Cutting Tools 46

Heating Tools 46

Auxiliary Tools 48

2 Painted Sails 50

Materials for Painted Sails 50

Painting Tools 52

3 Tying and Pasting 54

4 Kite Flying 55

Kite Lines 55

Kite Line Reels 57

Chapter 3 Basic of Kite Construction 59

1 Assembling the Frame 59

Preparation of the Materials 60

Making the Components of the Frame 66

Assembling the Components 68

2 Painting the Sails 72

3 Pasting the Painted Sail on the Frame 74

4 Tying 76

5 Learn to Read a Kite Plan 79

Chapter 4 Example Illustrating the Making of Chinese Kites 81

1 Phoenix Kite 82

2 Goldfish Kite 86

3 Monkey King Facial Pattern Kite 90

4 Eight Trigrams Kite 94

5 Eagle Kite 100

6 Butterfly Kite 108

7 Petty Official Kite 114

8 Good Fortune and Longevity Swallow Kite 122

Chapter 5 How to Fly a Kite 129

1 Getting Ready 129

Location 129

Weather 130

Wind 130

Calculating the "Wing Load" of a Kite 131

Kite Type, Wind Force, Wing Load Must All Be Taken into Account when Choosing the Right Conditions for Launching 133

2 Launching, Flying and Flight Control 134

Launching 134

Gaining Altitude 135

Flight Control 136

3 Common Problems and Flow to Adjust for Them 138

Looping and Diving 138

Listing to One Side 139

Swaying 140

Forward Pitch 140

Backward Pitch 141

Spinning 141

Appendix 143

Common Designs Featured on Chinese Kites 143

Bibliography 148

Dates of the Chinese Dynasties 149

Index 150