Chinese Kites

Beijing, China: Foreign Languages Press. Very Good. 1989. First Edition. Softcover. 0835115941 . Tight unmarked book in clean bright covers with faint crease to rear. ; Traditional Chinese Arts and Culture; 10.0 X 7.2 X 0.4 inches; 110 pages; Kites have a long and interesting history in China, where they were invented some 2,400 years ago. Kite-flying, once used for military purposes and in scientific research, is still a popular sport and pastime today. In the eyes of the connoisseur, a skilfully made kite is a work of art. Traditional Chinese kites come in every imaginable shape and size. They are mainly made of paper, stiff silk and silk fabric, and come in flat, bowed, series-strung and cubic forms. According to design, they can be divided into seven types: figures, objects, characters, flowers, birds, grasses and insects, and all can be painted with abstract designs, figurative decorations, or both. There are two types of construction -- whole-piece frame and folding frame, and two types of structure -- hard-winged and soft-winged. This book recounts the history of the development of Chinese kites and describes different types of kites, their special features and their relations to Chinese folk customs. The book is illustrated with 230 fine colour plates, including pictures of the most representative kites from different regions in China. .