Kite and Military

The art of kite-making dates back to the Spring and Autumn (770-476BC) and the Warring States (475-221BC) periods. More than 2,000 years ago, the ancients began to use wood to make "wooden black-eared kites" that could carry a person and fly high into the sky for reconnoitering (surveillance) and other military purposes. According to the historical book Han Feizi - Wai Chu Shuo Zuo, "It takes Mozi (a famous Chinese philosopher who lived 2,300 years ago) three years to make one such kite, which can fly for only one day."

Another historical book Hong Shu says, "Master Carpenter Lu Ban succeeded in producing a wooden black-eared kite that was used to conduct reconnaissance flights over Songcheng City."

Both these two ancient kite makers lived in the State of Lu, (today's Qufu in East China's Shandong Province and the birthplace of Confucius).

Once invented, kites were used for military purposes by ancient militarists for hundreds of years..

In 202BC, Liu Bang, the Han Emperor, and 300,000 soldiers surrounded Xiang Yu, the Chu Emperor. A decisive battle broke out between them. Once Emperor Xiang became worried about the lack of food and reinforcements, General Han Xin, under Emperor Liu, made a kite and had a light soldier; the soldier and flew up to the sky and sang songs. The favorable wind brought the singing down to the Chu army on the ground, greatly shocking Emperor Xiang and disturbing the minds of the Chu army. Emperor Xiang failed to break through the siege and committed suicide.

Kites have shown their importance, as well as sometimes their limitation, in reconnaissance, propaganda, communication, and so on.

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