(Baonghean.vn) -To achieve those moments of kites soaring in the wind, and the joyful evenings of enjoying the sound of kite whistles, kite flyers from Thanh Chuong, the "land of bamboo shoots," have to put in a great deal of effort.They make unique and beautiful kites.
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| Every "kite village" in Thanh Chuong has kite-making "artisans," and many offer their services for free. Traditional kites are quite simple to make, primarily using bamboo and nylon. The bamboo is carefully selected, thoroughly dried, meticulously shaped, bent, and tied into the kite frame. Usually, each kite requires three bamboo sticks (one for the axle and two for the wings). In the photo: A resident of Yen Long hamlet, Thanh Yen commune, is bending the wings of a kite. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| After finishing the kite frame, people usually cover it with a piece of plastic film, adjust it to be symmetrical, then sew and glue the edges together to complete the kite wing. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| Next, measure the distance and drill holes to attach the flute to the kite's frame. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| Besides traditional kite-making techniques, kite flyers in "kite villages" have also adopted new methods of making kites with beautiful designs (multicolored, with tails), easy to assemble and disassemble, and convenient to transport. These kites have wings made from four bamboo poles (connected by a metal axle) and pre-sewn specialized fabric. In the photo: A young man in Hamlet 2, Thanh Luong Commune, is measuring and cutting kite fabric. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| The kite fabric is sewn into the shape of a kite wing with holes for inserting bamboo sticks. Each kite wing is usually sewn in two separate halves, joined together with a zipper. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| The kite flute is the most difficult part to make. Previously, people in Thanh Chuong often played single flutes made from a bamboo tube or a milk carton, with two smaller flutes on either side. Now, the multi-flute system is more popular and requires meticulous craftsmanship, demanding skill and precision. First, the flute tubes must be carefully crafted; one must select a type of bamboo or rattan with widely spaced nodes, that is light, durable, and strong. The outer layer must be stripped off, and the bamboo must be sanded thin and even before the connecting holes are carved. (Photo: Huy Thu) |
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| The flute's lid is made from yellow heartwood. The size of the lid depends on the size of the flute. Making these lids requires not only skillful hands (saw, carving, planing, and sanding techniques) but also great patience and perseverance. (Photo: Huy Thư) |
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| A standard flute cap is one that meets the criteria of being round, smooth, lightweight, and having the holes drilled to the correct size. Whether the flute sounds good or not largely depends on the technique used to drill the holes. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| Making traditional kites with whistles only takes half a day per person to complete one kite, while making modern kites can sometimes take a whole week to finish a set of whistles. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| A set of flutes consists of 7 to 9 double flutes, of uniform size from largest to smallest. Creating a flute ensemble that resonates with musical notes is a meticulous process, involving family secrets passed down through generations. Photo: Huy Thư |
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| After finishing the kite, the only thing left is to tie the string. Whether the kite catches the wind, soars high, or glides low depends largely on the technique used to tie the string. When flying the kite, you can attach a single whistle or a set of whistles, depending on your preference. Photo: Huy Thu |
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| "Kite flying" is a very elaborate craft. To own beautiful kites that fly high, kite flyers in "kite villages" have constantly innovated and improved kite-making techniques. They are people who both "fly for themselves" to satisfy their passion and "fly for the village" to preserve a traditional rural custom. Photo: Huy Thu. |
Huy Thu
