Basic Introduction to Weifang Kites
Weifang kites are a traditional Han Chinese handicraft and a folk cultural custom of the Spring Festival. They are one of the Intangible Cultural Heritages. Weifang is also known as Weidu and Fancity, with a long history of kite-making and exquisite craftsmanship. Weifang kites stand alongside Beijing-style and Tianjin-style kites, complementing each other. Like many Chinese folk art forms, Weifang kites originated from entertainment activities, embodying people's ideals and wishes, and closely linked to their lives as an entertainment item.
Product Characteristics
Weifang kites have a strong local flavor and vivid charm, incorporating the best of various styles, especially in terms of kite structure and painting colors. The process of making woodblock New Year pictures has been transplanted onto kites, and traditional Chinese painting techniques are applied to kite painting, forming a unique style characterized by beautiful shapes, fine binding, and bright colors, becoming an important school of Chinese kites.
The artistic characteristics and style of Weifang kites: meticulous material selection, beautiful shape, exquisite binding, vivid imagery, bright painting, diverse varieties, and flexible flying. In the family of Chinese kites, Weifang kites have a long history, with rich and broad themes. Their unique use of materials, exaggerated design, New Year picture painting techniques, and the clever application of aerodynamic principles in flying create a strong rustic charm and unique appeal, renowned both at home and abroad.
Historical Folk Customs
Kites, anciently called “Yuan,” Weifang is also known as Weidu and Fancity, hence its name, indicating the long history of kite-making in Weifang.
Weifang is recognized by countries around the world as the “World Capital of Kites,” and the headquarters of the International Kite Federation is located in the Weifang Kite Museum. Weifang is also China's kite capital, with a long history of production, belonging to one of the three major schools of Chinese kites, standing shoulder to shoulder with Beijing and Tianjin kites, enjoying a high reputation both at home and abroad. Weifang kites feature diverse themes with a strong rural flavor and a lively folk atmosphere. An international kite festival is held in Weifang every year from April 20th to 25th, with delegations from over 30 countries and regions participating each year.
Manufacturing Methods
Bamboo Binding
The frame of Weifang kites is usually made of bamboo, and the process of binding the frame includes selecting bamboo, splitting bamboo, shaving bamboo strips (using methods such as “drawing and shaving” and “pushing and shaving”), trimming bamboo strips, bending bamboo strips, and tying bamboo strips together. There are many types of kite frames, each with its own unique binding method. Generally speaking, after mastering the basic binding methods for hard-wing kites, soft-wing kites, and flap kites, one can freely vary the methods to bind various types of kites.
Paper Binding
Materials used for binding kites include paper, alum-treated silk, thin silk, etc., which can be determined based on the form of the kite. For example, silk is used to bind dragonflies because it is more translucent than paper, resembling the wings of a live dragonfly. Silk is used for the tails of dragon kites, which flutter in the wind like fish tails when flown. Eagles cannot be bound with silk, as the fluttering of silk does not resemble an eagle soaring in the sky; instead, oiled paper or wind-resistant paper that has been backed must be used. When binding a kite, the paper is cut according to the frame, leaving some edges uncut. Slits are made along the edges, and glue is applied before pasting the edges onto the bamboo strips. There are two binding methods: one involves wrapping the paper around the four sides of the bamboo strip, known as “edge wrapping”; the other involves wrapping the paper around the two sides of the bamboo strip, and after the glue dries, the excess paper is trimmed off with a knife, known as “edge trimming.” This method reveals part of the processed bamboo strips, showcasing the artisan's skill. Kites can be bound first and then painted, or painted first and then bound. Since the painted patterns on kites are mostly symmetrical, artisans generally paint first and then bind.
Painting
The painting composition and coloring of kites most vividly reflect local characteristics. Weifang kites absorb the techniques of Weixian woodblock New Year paintings and incorporate the strengths of Beijing and Tianjin kite painting. The lines are bold, and the colors are primarily red, yellow, and blue, with heavy brushstrokes and bright tones, creating a strong visual effect through symmetry.
Flying
The tools for flying kites include line, line-winding tools, and various accessories for games. Kite-flying lines include “sewing thread” (suitable for small kites), “small line” (three-strand cotton thread, the most commonly used kite line by the public), “clothing line” (silk thread, finer ones called “silk thread” and thicker ones called “silk rope”), “flax thread” (previously used by the public for flying large kites), etc. The most common line-winding tool is the “line reel,” a hexagonal spool threaded onto a handle that can rotate freely while releasing the line.