Making Tiny Chinese Kites

Celebrate the Ch'ing Ming Festival, or any festive holiday, with these Tiny Chinese Kites!

Supplies you will need:
manilla file folder
scissors
disposable chopsticks or a bamboo skewer
washable markers
pin or paper clip to poke kite holes
sewing thread

In China, kites were tools before they were toys. More than 2,500 years ago, wooden kites were flown there. Silk kites were used for religious purposes. When released, the kites became flying messages, soaring upwards to sky spirits. With the invention of paper, kites were more available and were used to help with farming and fishing.

Kites performed military tasks such as calling troops to action. Soldiers flew in kites to spy on enemies and to enter walled cities. One story tells how kites with flutes were flown over military troops who became so homesick from their music that the soldiers gave up and went home.

Now kites are flown for pleasure and competition. There are many kite festivals in China. The Ch'ing Ming Festival falls 106 days after the winter solstice. It is a time to remember ancestors, family members who lived before you. Families pay respects to their dead relatives by visiting and cleaning their grave sites. Ch'ing Ming means "Pure Brightness." It is a celebration of springtime and the renewal of life. This usually takes place on the 4th or 5th of April. The custom of kite flying is tied to the ancient religious rituals of releasing diseases or calamities with the kite. Sounds cool right?

Now let's make our own Tiny Chinese Kite. First off you will need to pick the Chinese symbol for your kite. You can find symbols to use here or if you already have one that's great. Make sure it's bold enough to be seen from the ground.

With scissors, cut out a small, heart-shaped kite (without the dip in the top) from a folded recycled file folder. Match the size of your kite to the length of the disposable chopsticks or bamboo skewers you will use for cross pieces. Unfold and draw your Chinese symbol on both sides of the kite with washable markers.

Fold your kite vertically along its centerline. Punch out two small holes near the top and bottom of kite. Unfold and fold the kite horizontally about one third of way down from its top. Punch three holes each on the left and right sides of the kite. Weave the disposable chopsticks or bamboo skewers through the holes in a lower-case T shape.

Cut a piece of strong thread for the kite's bridle and tie it to the spine. Tie a small loop of thread to the bridle. Attach another loop to the bottom of the spine and connect a long length of ribbon to it for the kite tail. Tie a kite flying line to the thread loop on your bridle. Your kite is ready for take off. Adjust the length of the tail to help the kite fly evenly. These kites also make beautiful decorations.

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World Kite Museum & Hall of Fame