Kite making skills (Lhasa kite)

Name of China's national intangible cultural heritage: kite making skills (Lhasa kite)

Applicant: Lhasa City, Tibet Autonomous Region

Project No.: 438

Project No.: VIII - 88

Time of publication: 2006 (the first batch)

Category: traditional art

Region: Tibet Autonomous Region

Type: new item

Applicant: Lhasa City, Tibet Autonomous Region

Protection unit: Mass Art Museum of Tibet Autonomous Region (intangible cultural heritage protection center of Tibet Autonomous Region)

Introduction to kite making skills (Lhasa kite)

Applicant: Lhasa City, Tibet Autonomous Region

Lhasa kites were popular in Lhasa, Xigaze, Zedang and other places in Tibet, and spread to neighboring Nepal and Bhutan. In the Qing Dynasty, they were popular in the upper class of Tibetans. The 13th Dalai Lama preferred kites. He once sealed "shangya", which is specially used for kites and Zheng strings.

In August of the Tibetan calendar, the wind is strong in Weizang area, which is the season for kite flying. Folk believe that if kites fly early, autumn will come to an early end. There are many rules for flying kites in Lhasa. In terms of time, Lhasa was released after the Sheraton Festival, while Shigatse must be released first by the vulgar officials of dongtouzong. The shape and use of kites have age requirements, such as six axis, eight axis and ten axis kites, which must be selected separately according to age. The shape of Tibetan kites is relatively single, mostly diamond plane, but they pay attention to color patterns, including "jiawo" (big beard), "Guma or Guna" (nail head or black head), "Miluo" (staring), "qiwa" (showing teeth), "bangdian" (apron), "GaLin" (leg bone number). Because of the gorgeous colors, the sky is gorgeous when flying. Usually, these kites hang on the wall and are regarded as the sacred objects of ascending luck.

The flying skills of Lhasa kites are reflected in the fight and play in the air. The subtle changes of pay off and take-up can make the kite rise, fall, rotate and roll rapidly in the air. The biggest feature is "fighting", and the one who breaks the line and floats away is defeated. All kinds of fighting skills are focused on the "stranded wire" in the end, and the quality of the wire is very important, so there is a process in the production, that is, "that". The main ingredient of "Na" is broken glass powder. Add a kind of sticky plant "Wangla" and stir it with mashed rice, sugar and water. When it is cooled to a certain temperature, put the "Na" in the palm of your hand, and pass the kite string between your fingers, so that the "Na" of different thickness can be glued like a saw tooth. The making of kites in Lhasa is seasonal. Kites are sold in Lhasa, Shigatse and other towns every autumn. The kites of the families of ladakaqi in Shigatse and CIREN in Lhasa are well-known for their exquisite techniques and distinctive features. But now a group of accomplished kite artists have died one after another or are old and rare, and their skills are facing loss.