| Kite flying is one of the oldest pastimes in the world. | | | | wood. This could well be, though a case could be |
| No one can say with certainty precisely how old it is, | | | | made out that they might have had a bamboo |
| but we do know that it goes back for many | | | | framework with a silk cover, since silk is said to have |
| centuries, and that the beginnings of the story have | | | | been used there as far back as 4,000 years ago. It is |
| an eastern setting. On the latter point, more will be | | | | probable that by the fourth century this material was |
| said in a moment. In the meantime, this may be said. | | | | being used. About the year A.D. 105 the Chinese |
| In its general significance, the invention of the kite | | | | discovered a method of making paper sheets from |
| stands out as an expression of man's age-old and | | | | vegetable fiber. This made available another suitable |
| universal longing to conquer the air. | | | | covering material. |
| It cannot be said with precision just how or when | | | | When we turn to the purposes for which kites were |
| thoughts about flying began to occupy man's mind. | | | | used in those far-off days, much that is of interest |
| What is known, however, is that from the time he | | | | may be noted. Ancient Chinese historians have |
| began to write and to draw, the idea of flight was | | | | recorded that they were employed to carry ropes |
| present; an idea which was born, no doubt, through | | | | across rivers and gorges. The ropes were made fast |
| watching the birds in their travels, doing what he | | | | and wooden bridges suspended from them. It is said |
| himself could not do. The ability which he himself did | | | | that a general of the Han dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D. 221) |
| not possess he bestowed upon the beings born of | | | | put the enemy to flight by flying musical kites over |
| his imagination. In ancient stories of superhuman | | | | their camp at night. The enemy fled, because they |
| mastery of the elements, gods and devils transport | | | | believed that the music was the voices of their |
| themselves with wings, and men and beasts also | | | | guardian angels, warning them of coming danger. |
| navigate the air. Thus in one way or another man's | | | | There is a tradition, too, that man-lifting kites were |
| interest in flight was sustained, and in the course of | | | | used in attacks on cities, and to drop men behind |
| time this interest led to various attempts to achieve | | | | enemy lines. It is difficult to say when this strategy |
| mastery of the air. | | | | was first employed, so no date can be given. It is |
| In the story of man's conquest of the air, kites have | | | | known, however, that the Chinese and the Japanese |
| an important place. It cannot be said with certainty | | | | used man-lifting kites to survey the enemy's position |
| who invented them or when they were first flown. | | | | as early as the seventeenth century A.D. |
| Ancient Greek tradition ascribes the invention to | | | | There is a tradition that kites were known in Ancient |
| Archytas of Tarentum in the fourth century B.C. The | | | | Greece and Rome. One should not be too dogmatic |
| Koreans attribute the origin of the kite to a general | | | | on this point. On the other hand, taking fourth |
| who, in the dim and distant past, put fresh courage | | | | century China as the starting point, one may |
| into his troops by sending up a kite to which a | | | | confidently trace the spread of kite flying all over |
| lantern was fixed. They believed that it was a new | | | | Asia and beyond, extending to such countries as |
| star and a sign of divine help. | | | | New Zealand. The Maoris are said to have fastened |
| Above the mists of speculation the fourth century | | | | perforated reeds to their kites. It was believed that |
| B.C. stands as a landmark. It is established that by | | | | the sounds which they made would scare off evil |
| this time kites were well-known in China. It is said | | | | spirits. |
| that the first Chinese kites were probably made of | | | | |