Classifications of Chinese Kites

Kinds of Chinese Kites

●Classified by images  ● Classified by structures 
●Classified by functions ● Classified by sizes 

 Classified by images
(a). Bird-shaped kites: e.g. eagle, swallow, pigeon, wild goose, parrot, phoenix, seagull, crane.
(b). Insect-shaped kites: e.g. dragonfly, cicada, beetle, butterfly.
(c). Aquatic animal-kites: e.g. goldfish, catfish, Pisces, frog, crab.
(d). Character-kites: e.g. Monkey King , Flying to the sky, cherub, the god of longevity, characters of the fairy tales, etc.
(d) Word-like kites: e.g. characters of double happiness , blessing, longevity, etc. 
(e). Vessel-kites: e.g. flower basket, fan, bell, palace lamp.
(f) Other transfigured pattern and geometry pattern kites: e.g. tile, hip shade, the Eight Diagrams, pentacle and hexangular kites of South China, etc.

Classified by structures
(a). Hard-wing kites: e.g. swallow kite etc. Two transversely bamboo bar structured the framework of the wing. 
(b). Soft-wing kites: e.g. eagle, swallow kite, etc. One bamboo bar structured the framework of the wing.
(d). Board-kites: Kites shaped like a piece of board. e.g. kites of artistic face of Peking Opera, symmetrical fish, frog, bell, ancient cooking vessels, cicada, etc. 
(e). Cluster kites: e.g. centipede, a cluster of wild geese.
(f) Load-like kites: e.g. symmetrical swallows kites and symmetrical pigeon kites which are transversely tactic.
(g) Soft-wing kites: Kites without or with few longitudinal frameworks, which work by the pressure of wind.
(h). Bucket-kites: Kites consist of one or more cylinders or other shaped canisters. e.g. palace lantern.

 Classified by functions
(a) Toy kites: Neither high value of art nor special function has the toy kite. It is simple, cheap, easy to be popularized, of large quantity, the most popular kind. 
(b) Kites for view and appreciation: With high valued on art, attractive pattern, and good effect on bright color and sculpture as flying and adornment. e.g. butterfly, centipede, colored-face of Peking Opera, phoenix, crane, etc. 
(c) Stunting kites: It emphasizes on the capability for stunting. For example, fighting in the air, flying up and down, color-changing in the air, etc. They have the characteristics of being athletic and high skilled. 
(d) Practicable kites: It can help people do certain kinds of work.. For instance, it can work for aerial photography, communication, lifesaving, scientific research, weather exploration, tractor for antenna of wireless, etc. 

Classified by sizes
(a)Huge kites: Kites with areas over 10 square meters, or over 100 cells for the clustering kites. e.g. “boarding-snipe? as well as the large kites weighed eight and a half tons, which were made by the Japanese in 1936, etc.
(b). Big kites: Kites with areas over 2 square meters, or over 50 cells for the clustering kites.
(c). Middle-sized kite: Kites with areas around 1 square meter.
(d). Small-sized kites: Kites with areas around an half square meter.
(e). Mini kites: The smallest kite with area less than 0.01 square meter. e.g. “swallow on the palm" of China; The kites from Jianghu,Japan are just a little bigger than a stamp.

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