Kitecraft : $b and kite tournamentsMiller, Charles M.
Philosophy
Kitecraft : $b and kite tournaments
Miller, Charles M.
Kites
Box-kites require considerable time and are more difficult in
construction. They are a built up framework with cloth or strong paper
coverings. The frames must be kept light and strong, and a process of
trussing is necessary to accomplish this. The covering seldom covers
the whole framework but usually is made in bands. The space enclosed
by a band is called a cell. Most box-kites consist of a forward and
rear cell, that is a band is found at each end around the framework,
transversely to the length of the kite. Some of the most practical
working kites are of the box-kite type. By working kite, I mean kites
that are used for a purpose other than pleasure.
Some box-kites have extended wings of plain surfaces to gain more
lifting power, or for poise, and the application of these appendages
serves to explain the combination of kinds that form this group.
In the group “Kites in Series” we have kites of the same kind fastened
rigidly together making one kite, called a compound kite, also kites
fastened one after the other a few feet apart on one line and all
started up at one time, and still another set of similar kites in which
a number of kites are put up on individual strings, one at a time,
for perhaps 300 feet, and are then attached to the main kite line.
Boys sometimes succeed in pulling up as high as forty kites on one
line by this method. Another very interesting and beautiful series is
the Chinese dragon kite type. In this a number of kites are harnessed
together with about three cords running from head to tail.
These various groups will receive more explicit directions in separate
chapters as we proceed. So far in our analysis we have been dealing
with kinds of kites as to construction. There will be a number of
chapters on various other features of kite work and accessories,
including, Kite Decoration, Messengers, etc. The Chinese and Japanese
people have been making kites a great many years and have become very
skilful workers and decorators. Their decorations seem to tend more
toward the depicting of ugliness and fierceness instead of beauty and
color harmony, altho many of the color combinations are very effective.
The tendency toward fierceness can well be understood when we consider
that it has a part in their religion, it being supposed that such ugly
monsters helped to drive away the evil spirits.
The large Japanese square kite, which is rectangular in shape instead
of square, usually has a big head with plenty of the whites of the eyes
and teeth showing. Some very fine specimens have been exhibited at our
“Kite Tournaments”. They expend quite freely in making up their kites,
use costly ornaments and considerable gilt and black. The gilt is
usually very good that is used.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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