Research paper "Kite is fun for children." Presentation - the history of the kite The history of the kite
O. BULANOVA
Kites were invented in China even before historians began to write their chronicles. The Chinese began making the first kites from bamboo and plant leaves. After the invention of silk in 2600 BC. The Chinese began making kites from bamboo and silk.
Chinese manuscripts tell of kites in the shape of birds, fish, butterflies, beetles, and human figures, which were painted in the brightest colors.
The most common type of Chinese serpent was the dragon, a fantastic winged serpent. A huge dragon raised into the air was a symbol of supernatural powers.
There are many stories in Chinese folklore about kites being flown for both pleasure and business. They were most often used for military purposes. In addition, the Chinese used kites to measure the distance between their army and the walls of the enemy’s castle.
They say that the commander Han Xin, trying to rescue the emperor, launched a kite from his camp and, using the length of the rope, determined the exact distance to the wall of the besieged capital, thanks to which he was able to create a tunnel.
Also, with the help of kites, scouts and observers were lifted into the sky.
There is a legend that in 202 BC. General Huang Teng and his army were surrounded by opponents and were in danger of complete destruction. It is said that a random gust of wind blew the general's hat off his head, and then the idea came to him to create a large number of kites equipped with sound devices.
According to Chinese chronicles, the Chinese Emperor Liu Bang, besieged in his capital, launched them over the rebel camp. Supposedly invisible at night, the snakes equipped with whistles made terrible sounds, demoralizing enemy soldiers.
In the dead of night, these kites flew right over the heads of the enemy army, who, hearing mysterious howls in the sky, panicked and ran away.
However, in Southeast Asia and New Zealand, a device that can float in the air was apparently invented independently of China. It was made from palm leaves and used for fishing, hanging hooks from a thread floating above the water. In addition, it was used by peasants as a garden scarecrow.
We should not forget about the religious significance of kites: in most cultures of the Far East, a thread extending into the sky served as a symbol of connection with the gods of the air and the souls of ancestors. In Thailand, it was designed to drive away monsoon rains.
In the 7th century The kite flew to Japan. Perhaps they were brought to the country by Buddhist missionaries in ancient times, around 618-907.
In Japan, kites gained popularity; they began to give them the shape of a crane, fish, and turtle. Kites began to appear in the form of colorfully painted canvases.
In ancient Japanese drawings you can also find images of kites, which were significantly different in shape from Chinese ones.
Kites in this country served as a connecting link between man and the gods. Kites were flown in order to scare away evil forces, protect against misfortunes, and ensure a good harvest and health.
Stories about how these devices lifted “crackers,” building materials, and even people into the air are very numerous. For example, the samurai Tamemoto and his son were exiled to Hachijo Island. This Japanese Daedalus built a giant kite, on which his son managed to fly away from the island.
The plot is apparently a fairy tale, but the “Van-Van” snakes with a wingspan of 24 m and a tail length of 146 m are historically attested. Such a colossus weighing about 3 tons could easily lift a person into the air.
In India, kite fights have gained popularity; they still attract huge crowds of spectators during the Makar Sankranti holiday.
Kites became widespread in Korea. At first, their use was purely religious in nature, and then flying kites became a fascinating form of activity and spectacle.
In Malaysia, kites were also popular. A typical Malayan kite has the shape of a curvilinear, symmetrical triangle. Its frame consists of three intersecting rods, the covering is made of coarse fabric.
In Europe, of course, they also had an idea of the lifting force of the wind. Surely, Greek sailors more than once had their sails torn off and fluttered in the air, while Roman simpletons had their hat blown off by a gust and it flew up on its strings.
No special ingenuity is required to create a kite. And yet the fact remains: the only thing the West has come up with is “dragon” (the Greek word for snake).
So from about 100 AD. called a Roman cavalry banner in the shape of a modern butterfly net, only longer. The “dragon” swelled with the wind (indicating its direction to the archers), wriggled and frightened the enemy with its whistle. The flowing cylindrical tail of the weather vane, made of fabric that twisted like the body of a dragon, gave the riders self-confidence and created a menacing appearance that instilled fear in the enemy.
Weather vanes also indicated to the archers the direction and strength of the wind. But a short shaft is not a thread going up. Compared to oriental masterpieces, the idea of a “dragon” should be considered very mundane.
In general, according to European traditions, the invention of kites is attributed to the Greek mathematician Arcitas of Tarentum, who around 400 BC. designed a wooden bird based on research on bird flight. It is believed that he was inspired by the sight of a Chinese bird kite.
The ancient records about the first practical applications of kites are interesting; one of them says that in the 9th century. The Byzantines allegedly lifted a warrior on a kite, who from a height threw incendiary substances into the enemy camp.
In 906, the Kiev prince Oleg used kites during the capture of Constantinople. The chronicle says that “horses and people made of paper, armed and gilded” appeared in the air above the enemy.
And in 1066, William the Conqueror used kites for military signaling during the conquest of England. But, unfortunately, no data has been preserved about the shape of ancient European kites, their structural and flight properties.
The restless Marco Polo, who returned from China in 1295, introduced his fellow countrymen to the soaring kite. I liked the toy, but it didn’t become popular. The first (unfinished) European drawing of a “Thai cobra” type kite dates back to 1326.
In 1405, the first correct description of a kite appeared - in a treatise on military technology. And in a picture from 1618 depicting life in the Dutch town of Middelburg, we see boys flying kites of the diamond-shaped shape that is familiar to us today.
But only by the 17th century. kites became common in Europe. At the beginning of the 18th century. the hobby of kite flying was already extremely popular. Kites were used in mesmerizing spectacles and various shows, and not just as a harmless toy for children.
Thus, in Europe this item acquired neither mystical nor religious significance. But I acquired scientific knowledge, although not immediately. In 1749, Scottish meteorologist Alexander Wilson raised a thermometer to an altitude of 3,000 feet.
Three years later, Benjamin Franklin conducted a famous experiment with electricity in Philadelphia: during a thunderstorm, he flew a kite with a piece of wire attached to it. Everything immediately got wet from the rain. Result: the metal key in Franklin's hands sparkled. Having discovered the electrical nature of lightning with the help of a kite, Franklin invented the lightning rod.
Kites were used to study atmospheric electricity by the great Russian scientist Mikhail Lomonosov and the English physicist Isaac Newton.
Newton, when he was still a schoolboy, conducted several virtually unrecorded experiments regarding the most economical form of a kite.
In 1826, George Pocock patented a cart driven by a kite: it reached speeds of up to 30 km/h, and Pocock scared the peasants by driving around the outskirts of Bristol in a cart without horses.
In 1847, when they were crossing Niagara Falls, the first rope was thrown from bank to bank (250 m) using a kite.
Many other ideas arose: for example, using kites to rescue people from a sinking ship. Researchers have done many experiments related to lifting all kinds of loads, as well as people. Since 1894, kites have been systematically used to study the upper atmosphere.
Australian scientist Lawrence Hargrave made significant improvements to the kite in the 90s. XIX century In 1893, Hargrave created a kite in the form of a box without a bottom. This was the first fundamental improvement in design since ancient times.
Hargrave's flying boxes were not only a great impetus for the development of the “snake” business, but also undoubtedly helped in the design of the first aircraft.
But soon the era of airplanes began and snakes were forgotten. Although during both world wars they were used - on submarines to improve visibility and in pilots' rescue kits to raise the radio antenna.
The kite was widely used in meteorological observatories in Germany, France and Japan. 3may rose to a very great height.
For example, at the Linderberg Observatory (Germany) they achieved a kite lift of more than 7000 m.
The first radio communication across the Atlantic Ocean was made using a box kite. The Italian engineer G. Marconi launched in 1901 on the island of New Foundlain a large kite that flew on a wire that served as a receiving antenna.
At the beginning of the 20th century. The work on the snakes was continued by the captain of the French army, Sacconey. He created an even more advanced kite design, which is one of the best to this day.
The new life of the kite began in the 50s, when Francis Rogallo invented a design without bars - the wind held it spread out in the air. It was a paraglider that blurred the line between a parachute, a hang glider and a kite.
China is considered the birthplace of the kite - the prototype of all aircraft. Moreover, at first the kite was not at all an object of fun, but rather a military attribute.
In Washington, at the National Air and Space Museum, the inscription on one of the stands that greets visitors reads: “The first flying machines created by man were the kite and the rocket. They were created in ancient China." But the creation of a rocket became possible only after the invention of gunpowder (9th century). And the kite appeared before our era.
Eastern curiosity
The earliest mentions of kites date back to the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770-256 BC). They were made of wood and called “mu yuan”. The prototype was the “wooden bird” described in the treatise of the ancient Chinese philosopher Mozi, who lived in the 5th century BC. Although around the same time, kites appeared on the territory of modern Malaysia. But it was the Chinese who “claimed” the title of inventors.
After the invention of paper (105), it quickly found application in the design of kites. “Zhi Yuan” (paper kite) was lighter and flew higher and longer than its wooden counterpart. Although the ribs of the structure remained dried bamboo stems.
Silk became a new material for kites. It was stronger than paper, but also more expensive. Although during the Tang Dynasty (618-907), silk snakes became popular.
Kites were actively used in war. During the siege of the city of Nanjing (Nanjing) by Hou Jing's troops, the Nanjing people released several kites with certain symbols into the air so that residents of neighboring cities would see that they were in trouble. In another war, in the 3rd century BC, the army of the Han Dynasty on a huge kite lifted an observer into the air so that he could see from behind the fortress wall how long a tunnel needed to be dug to reach the enemy’s palace. The Chinese also raised firecrackers on snakes in order to intimidate the enemy by exploding them in the sky.
It was only after the 10th century that the kite began to be perceived as fun. During the reign of the Ming dynasty (XIV-XVII centuries) and the Qing dynasty (XVII - early XX centuries), kite making became one of the arts. Schools, masters, directions appeared. Snakes began to be decorated with images of flowers, birds, dragons and, of course, hieroglyphs. Along with Chinese lanterns and paper umbrellas, kites became a form of national expression.
Kites were brought to Europe by the famous traveler Marco Polo, who returned from China in 1295. It was he who brought the kite itself, and a description of its design and launch method.
The first mention of the use of kites in Europe appeared in a manuscript on military technology from 1405. Another document, already from 1430, describes the production of a kite from parchment and the method of attaching lines to achieve better flight parameters in different weather conditions.
Two other sources, dating from 1589 and 1634, explain how to lift fireworks into the air on a kite. And in an image of the Dutch city of Middelburg from 1618, the artist painted children holding diamond-shaped kites in their hands.
In the service of progress
Unlike Asia, Europe saw snakes only as fun. Only in 1749, the Scot Wilson used a kite to raise thermometers to a height of 3 thousand feet. The scientist determined the height by the length of the rail - the string holding the kite. Other components, in addition to the structure itself of light wooden ribs and paper or fabric stretched over it, were a bridle for attaching a lifeline to the kite and a “stability organ” (tail). The aerodynamics of the shape also played a role. Also, the stability of the kite was determined by the position of the center of gravity.
In 1752, one of the founding fathers of the United States, and at the same time a brilliant physicist, Benjamin Franklin used a kite to demonstrate the electrical nature of lightning. Franklin had previously argued that lightning was an electrical discharge and not a sign of God, but the evidence was lacking. Therefore, during a thunderstorm, he launched a kite by tying a metal key to the rail. The rain quickly got the rail wet, and when the next discharge occurred, the kite played the role of a lightning rod. The rope instantly burned, and sparks fell from the key. It was after this experience that Franklin patented the lightning rod.
It should be noted that the American was very lucky that he guessed to let go of the railing. Because a year later, in 1753, academician Georg Richmann died in Russia while flying a kite in a thunderstorm. But Lomonosov, who also experimented with kites and atmospheric electricity, survived.
In the 19th century, kites became an integral part of meteorological observations, since lifting a balloon was very expensive.
Radio inventor Alexander Popov raised the antenna of his transmitter, also with the help of a kite, and became convinced that obstacles reduce the permeability of radio waves. And Alexander Mozhaisky used a kite, dispersed by a team of horses, to select the optimal shape of his first aircraft.
Surprisingly, it was only at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries that Europeans saw military potential in kites. In the First, and in some places also in the Second World War, artillery fire spotters began to be lifted on kites. In addition, snakes were used by submariners. The periscope's view on the surface of the water was eight kilometers, while the observation mechanism, raised by a kite to a height of 400 feet, increased the view to 40 kilometers.
During World War II, specially designed kites were included in British and Australian Air Force life rafts. They were used as an onboard sail - they helped to pull the raft towards the main highways and thereby increase the chances of rescue. In addition, the kite stabilized the raft during rough waters. The military also used kites to lift radio transmitters to heights.
Inflatable horse
All kites in the world are called kites. In Russia, only a specific type of kite is called a kite. Namely, a type designed for towing a person or vehicle. In turn, they are divided into water, winter and aerobatic kites. Some kites are based on a design called parafoil. It does not have a rigid frame, but consists of an airtight fabric with closed internal spaces and an air intake directed towards the air flow. Entering the air intake, the flow creates excess pressure inside the enclosed space of the kite and inflates it, like a balloon. The kite then takes on a shape that creates lift.
A nice feature of parafoil is that there is nothing to break in it. Even if the shell ruptures, the air leaves it gradually, which gives a chance to complete the maneuver.
There are kiting clubs in many countries. The most reputable is KONE - the New England Kite Club, part of the American Kite Association.
In addition to its sporting and entertainment functions, kiting has other uses. Thus, in 2008, SkySails used a parafoil kite as an additional “engine” for a 55-meter-long vessel. Fuel savings amounted to 30%.
Fans of classic kites consider the Chinese city of Weifang, where the headquarters of the International Kite Flying Association and a museum are located, to be their Mecca. Here, from April 20 to April 25, the international kite festival is held annually, in the finals of which the “king of kites” is chosen - this title is the cherished dream of many kite designers and manufacturers.
History of kites in China
Many people around the world recognize that kites are of Chinese origin.Therefore, it is almost certain that the history of the development of kites in China will mean the story of the history of the appearance of kites on Earth.The first kites were what we might today call prototype kites. They were made of light wood and shaped like a bird.Of course, it was quite logical to create the first kites in a shape that would resemble the creatures created by nature to fly in the sky. The same logic was used by Europeans who first tried to rise into the sky by attaching artificial wings to human hands. Unfortunately, they did not take into account the fact that the strength of human arms would not be sufficient to flap wings of the size required for such a large body.
One of the places in Beijing where people can fly their kites or watch others do so is the Temple of Heaven Park. Clients who book tours to Beijing with us have the opportunity to request that this item be included in their program.
Later, traditional kites began to acquire various properties necessary for staying in the air for a long time. They began to be made from a light but durable material that was easy to bend. The basis for kites was usually silk, which was stretched over the ribs. This design was probably created under the impression of the spectacle of falling leaves. Many things came to a person's mind when he observed natural phenomena.
In order for people to have the time or need for such a frivolous pastime as flying kites, certain conditions are needed - at a minimum, society must be developed enough for this. Ancient China was a well-developed society, and people had time not only to work and create world-famous inventions and masterpieces of literature, but also to try to take to the skies - if not by themselves, then at least through a small aircraft.
Early history of kites in China
The earliest kites appeared during the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770 BC - 256 BC). They were made of wood and called mu yuan (i.e. wooden kite). The prototype of the kite - the “wooden bird” - is mentioned in the ancient text of Mozi (Mozi, 470 BC -391 BC). Mozi was a philosopher who lived one century later than Confucius (551 BC – 479 BC). He contrasted his ideas with the provisions of both Confucianism and Taoism. -
Another source states that the kite, or zhi yuan, was used as a means of warning of danger during a period that occurred a thousand years later. When the city of Nanjing (Nanjing) was under siege and Hou Jing's troops threatened to destroy the city, a kite was launched into the air and released so that neighboring cities could understand that the people of Nanjing were in trouble.
Lighter kite models made from the first silk or paper began to spread in China only during the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907). Bamboo was used as the main material for making the ribs. It was at this time that the kite began to be used not as a practical tool, but as a toy, an object created in order to gain pleasure. At that time, people in China had already begun to create the most exquisite things in music, culture and art. The Chinese have already begun to compete with each other in creating kites. The kite no longer just had to fly, it had to be better than others. During the Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) and Qing Dynasty (1644 - 1912), kite making and flying became something of an art form. It was an item that took a lot of effort to create. People used images of birds, flowers and, of course, hieroglyphs as design elements. Chinese kites, just like Chinese lanterns or Chinese paper umbrellas, have become a form of artistic expression.
Kite design
Creating a kite consists of three parts: Creating a frame, i.e. connecting several bamboo strips into one, gluing and creating a design. As for the frame, sometimes a certain part of it is made movable to create the effect of wing or tail movement. As we have already said, thin strips of bamboo are most often used for ribs, as they are distinguished by lightness, strength and flexibility. Among the frame shapes, the shapes of birds, butterflies and dragonflies are very popular. Other insects or mythical animals such as the dragon also serve as prototypes for kites. These days, kite makers go beyond the standard set of ideas and create whatever frame shapes they can think of. However, the general principles remain unchanged. One of these key principles is symmetry. Otherwise the kite simply won't fly.
Silk and paper are used as the base material. Silk is certainly a very beautiful material. But it is also very expensive and less durable than paper. The advantages of paper as a material are that it is very inexpensive, it is easy to work with, and you can create any, even the most complex, designs on it. The type of paper used to create kites is special. It is distinguished by its extraordinary thinness and at the same time increased strength. This strength is provided to the paper by its increased fiber content. Thanks to this, it is also very light. Often the paper is treated with a special adhesive oil. Only a thin layer of this substance is applied to the base. After the base, made of silk or paper, is glued onto the bamboo base, they begin to apply the design to it. Various images, geometric figures, images of animals or birds, as well as hieroglyphs are drawn on paper or silk. In addition to the bamboo frame and paper or silk base, reed stems are sometimes attached to give the kite a special character in its movement or to make the kite make some sounds.
In general, kite design can be divided into two types: hard (thicker and less flexible fins) and soft. If the kite is made according to the first type, it can be expected that it can fly as high as the ropes will reach or as far as the eye can see. If it is a soft design, then the kite will most likely not reach great heights, but you will be able to enjoy its soft and smooth movement with a special character.
Kite flying traditions in Weifang
In the city Weifang, which is located in Shandong Province, there are special traditions associated with kite flying. In particular, the headquarters of the International Kite Flying Association is located in this city, and the Weifang International Kite Festival is also held here. This festival takes place every year from April 20 to 25. Kite enthusiasts from all over the world flock in their thousands to the city of Weifang to participate in competitions or simply admire the magical and very colorful spectacle. At the end of the competitive part, an awards ceremony takes place and the “King of Kites” is announced. It is not surprising that it is in this city that the only museum in China is located entirely dedicated to the history of the creation and development of the kite.
The Weifang Kite Festival takes place every year from April 20 to 25. Every year this event attracts thousands of participants and spectators. During this event, spectators have the opportunity to see hundreds of different kites. China Highlights tours, which are designed specifically for holidays and festivals, offer clients a unique opportunity to participate in this magnificent celebration and interact with local residents and people from around the world who share the love of kites. They say that it was in the city of Weifang in 1282 that the famous Italian traveler and explorer Marco Polo (1254 - 1324) first saw a kite flown by a man. As follows from the travel notes of Marco Polo (1254 - 1324), in the city of Weifang at that time there was a tradition of checking the wind before flying a kite in order to understand how successful its journey would be. - .
Returning to Italy, Marco Polo (1254 - 1324) brought a Chinese kite there, and soon, thanks to the Great Silk Road, this toy became popular throughout Europe. In the Aeronautics and Space Museum in Washington, DC, in the pavilion dedicated to the history of flight, on one of the stands there is an inscription that reads: “The very first flying machines created by man were the kite and the rocket. They were created in ancient China?.
You can ask the question, what is this? The simplest design flying on a thread in the wind? A triangle of colored paper on which Merry Poppins landed on the heads of her children? But a common toy for us, such as a kite, is not quite as simple as it might seem at first glance.
The history of kites dates back to the times of ancient China. There he was called a snake, since on the Dragon Festival, which took place on September 9, huge bodies made of paper, which had a snake head at the end, were launched into the sky. Starting from the second century, this tradition is not forgotten today.
In the ancient chronicles of the Slavs and Byzantines there are various references to the similarities of kites. Only it was more like military equipment than toys. In order to confuse the enemy or simply frighten him, Prince Oleg used “horses and people made of paper, armed and gilded.” And during the capture of England, William the Conqueror in 1066 used kites for special military signals.
At this point in time, history fell silent and snakes became just entertainment, which was far from science. However, such an aircraft has not yet flown that was built without the law of aerodynamics. And it was this toy that helped discover such a law.
Previously, only a few types of kites were known - single-plane ones, that is, those with a tail, and composite ones, which are connected into a flexible system. The famous mathematician L. Euler said in 1756 that a kite is a children's toy that is underestimated by scientists, but it makes you think seriously about yourself. The achievements of Icarus and Daedalus were tried to be repeated 140 years later by the German engineer Lilienthal and the Austrian Hargrav. Hargrave launched a man into the air for the first time using this device and did not stop there. The result was a box-shaped kite that did not require a tail for stability during flight. Such flying boxes, which Hargrave came up with, pushed the concept of aerodynamics and helped in the creation of the first aircraft, and became the 3rd possible design - multi-plane.
Mikhail Vasilyevich, the guardian of our science, did not pass by the kite either. He also played with a toy. Lomonosov studied the nature of lightning and the upper layers of the atmosphere with its help. Mikhail Vasilyevich used a kite as a guide on June 26, 1753, launching it on a string during a thunderstorm. Only this experiment almost took his life, but became successful, since the scientist received a discharge of static electricity.
Box kites were constantly modified by military personnel and engineers, including during the outbreak of the First World War. During technological progress, this invention served not only peaceful purposes. Snakes were used during military operations for protection. Small balloons, as well as kites, were raised over particularly important military installations at about 3,000 meters so that their wire ropes could shoot down enemy planes.
This invention even has its own holiday, which is called “Kite Day”.
The first mentions of kites date back to the 2nd century BC, in China. According to documents, the commander Han Xin, while besieging the city with the help of a kite, measured the height of its walls. But snakes also served peaceful purposes: they raised fireworks into the sky during holidays, they were used in fishing, hanging hooks from threads hovering above the water. In addition, it was used by peasants as a garden scarecrow.
But the kite came to Europe much later. Marco Polo, an Italian explorer who returned from China in 1295, wrote an accurate account of the design of kites and the method of flying them.
For a long time, snakes did not find practical use. From the second half of the 18th century. they are beginning to be widely used in atmospheric scientific research. In 1749, A. Wilson used a kite to measure air temperature at altitude. In 1752, B. Franklin conducted an experiment in which, with the help of a kite, he discovered the electrical nature of lightning and subsequently, thanks to the results obtained, invented a lightning rod. M.V. Lomonosov conducted similar experiments and, independently of Franklin, came to the same results.
The experiments carried out to study atmospheric electricity were extremely dangerous. On June 26, 1753, while flying a kite in a thunderstorm, Lomonosov’s colleague, academician G.V., died. Richman.
In the 19th century, snakes were also widely used for meteorological observations.
At the beginning of the 20th century, kites contributed to the creation of radio. A.S. Popov used snakes to raise antennas to considerable heights.
It is important to note the use of kites in the development of early airplanes. In particular, A.F. Mozhaisky, before starting construction of his aircraft, conducted a series of tests with kites pulled by a team of horses. Based on the results of these tests, the dimensions of the aircraft were chosen, which should provide it with sufficient lifting force.
The practical capabilities of the kite attracted the attention of the military. In 1848 K.I. Konstantinov developed a system for rescuing ships in distress near the shore using kites. During the First World War, troops from various countries used kites to lift artillery fire observers and reconnaissance of enemy positions to heights.
A certain Otto Lilienthal from Germany in 1891 first took to the air on a kite of his own design, laying the foundation for kiting - a sport in which an athlete moves around the terrain with the help of a kite.
In recent years, so-called aerobatic kites have developed - specially shaped kites controlled using two handrails. An aerobatic kite, unlike any other, is capable of free gliding in the air, which provides its special properties. They are designed to perform a set of aerobatic maneuvers of varying complexity.
Clubs and communities are being created all over the world, uniting kite lovers - both designers and simply flyers (Kiteflyers). One of the famous ones is KONE - the Kite Club of New England, part of the Kite Flying Association of America.
The German company SkySails has used kites as an additional power source for cargo ships, first testing it in January 2008 on the MS Beluga Skysails. Tests on this 55-meter ship have shown that under favorable conditions, fuel consumption is reduced by 30%.
The second Sunday in October is World Kite Day, on this day kite lovers all over the world fly their flying “pets”.
