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Flights of kites
Updated: Apr 30, 2024
By Cheng Yuezhu
China Daily Global
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"We are still seeking innovations, such as changing the traditional models with more streamlined structures," Wei Guoqiu says.
"The kites may vary in size, but we strive to make the small ones vividly lifelike, and the large ones exquisite and unique."
Ma says the "four techniques" are a test of people's temperament, patience and dedication. Only those passing the test can truly become an inheritor of the artisanship.
"Kite making, among other intangible cultural heritage forms' craftsmanship, tests whether the inheritors can persevere in monotonous work and continuously strive to refine their skills. It is, in essence, a process of character-building and self-cultivation," he says.
"From an item as modest as a kite, we can see Chinese people's attachment to the cultural values associated with happiness, positivity and health. This is why the thin string linking us to kites and culture has endured until today and kite flying remains a cherished part of contemporary life."
