by Shanna Hatfield
Today is National Kite Flying Day.
That made me wonder about the origin of kites, and also made me remember how much fun I had as a child flying kites on our often windy hill where we lived.
The exact date of the invention of kites is a bit murky. Some scholars believe they were created in China. Others point to kites used by cultures in Malaysia, Indonesia, and the South Pacific as fishing instruments made out of material like leaves and reeds.
It is documented that famous Chinese philosopher Mo-tse spent three years carefully crafting a wooden bird to fly on a tethered line around 450 B.C.
However, the earliest written account of kite flying is in China in 200 B.C. The Chinese General Han Hsin of the Han Dynasty flew a kite over the walls of the city he was attacking to measure how far his army would have to tunnel to reach past the defenses.
By the 13th Century, kite flying had spread by traders across Asia and into the Middle East. Each area developed a distinctive style of kite and cultural purpose for flying them.
European explorer Marco Polo describes kites and their man-lifting capabilities in his book. He witnessed Chinese merchants using kits to determine whether a voyage would be prosperous or not.
Kite flying spread into Europe. You'll even find a mention of kites in William Shakespeare's writings. At first, kites were regarded as curiosities.
Kites grew in popularity with children, then physicists and meteorologists landed on the idea of developing kites for scientific purposes. Among the most famous are Benjamin Franklin.
One of the strangest uses of kite power was developed in the 1820s by George Pocock, a U.K. schoolmaster. He created a carriage pulled by a pair of arch-top kites that could reach speeds of up to 20 miles per hour.
The experiments and developments made with kites during the 1800s inspired the development of the powered airplane and transatlantic wireless communications of the early 20th century.
Skilled at kite flying, the Wright Brothers used those skills to develop their airplane. In 1899, they built a biplane kite, also known as a warping kite. They discovered by varying the position of the lines attached near the kite's extremities, they could simulate the twisting of the wings like a soaring bird.
The military used kits in both World War I and World War II.
Kites even led to the development of the modern hang-glider and sports parachute. Today, there are kite sporting events and competitions around the world.
I wonder if any cowboys back in the old West every flew a kite? I picture them on a Sunday afternoon, letting a kite dance in the breeze.
As for me, thinking about kites made me think of this song from Mary Poppins.
USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield grew up on a farm where her childhood brimmed with sunshine, hay fever, and an ongoing supply of learning experiences.
Shanna creates character-driven romances with realistic heroes and heroines. Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”
When this award-winning author isn’t writing or testing out new recipes (she loves to bake!), Shanna hangs out at home in the Pacific Northwest with her beloved husband, better known as Captain Cavedweller. Connect with her online at her website: shannahatfield.com
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