The sound of kite flutes in the coastal area

(Baonghean.vn) -On clear, bright summer afternoons or moonlit nights casting golden light upon the embankments and fields, the people of Xuan Uc village, Quynh Lien commune (Quynh Luu district, Nghe An province) would gaze at the soaring kites and listen to the gentle sound of flutes lulling them to sleep. The childhood flute melodies of the shepherd children of this coastal region now only remain in the memories of generations past…

A whistling kite has just been completed.

I visited Xuan Uc village on a sunny summer afternoon, in a traditional wooden house surrounded by a charming little garden with glimpses of the vibrant yellow of gourd flowers. Mr. Vu Xuan Kham greeted me with a gentle smile. Mr. Kham, once passionate about kite-making, has now become a renowned kite-making "artisan" in Xuan Uc village.

She said, "At this age, I don't have the strength to fly kites. I make them for my grandchildren to play with; I have over 30 grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I can't make many, but I try my best to pass on this traditional game of our ancestors, so that in the future, the children will have something to teach their children and grandchildren."

Mr. Vu Xuan Kham is considered a "master craftsman" of kite making in Xuan Uc village.

No one knows when the kite-flying tradition in Xuan Uc began. He passed the passion down to his father, who then to his son, and so on, through generations. And so, Mr. Kham was known throughout the region as a renowned kite flyer, capable of creating kites with the most unique sounds in the area. They were both poignant and tranquil, yet also clear and melodious.

Talking to Mr. Kham, his eyes occasionally slowly gazed up at the deep blue sky, childhood memories suddenly surfacing in his aged heart, which had spanned centuries. “The childhood of us shepherd children was filled with endless blue summer afternoons, the vast sea stretching before the Xuan Uc temple, hundreds of kites, big and small, soaring in the wind, carrying countless dreams of our innocent youth. Or those moonlit nights in the fields, the sound of kite whistles, sometimes near, sometimes far, sometimes melodious, sometimes a steady hum, stirring the Mai Giang river and the sea breeze,” Mr. Kham’s voice trembled as he recalled each word from his memories.

Mr. Kham introduces the newly completed kite flute.

Leaving aside the sound for now, the meticulousness and care in carving, polishing, and splicing each detail of the kite's mouthpiece and tube speaks volumes about the intricacy of every small detail, especially when made entirely by hand by the skillful hands of the kite maker. Not everyone can make kite flutes. It depends not only on the materials and technique but also on the maker's ability to perceive sound.

According to Mr. Kham, first, one must select mature bamboo tubes about 40cm long, split the tube in half, seal the split, and carefully shape the two mouthpieces to match so that when the flute sounds, they are in unison, like the line from the Tale of Kieu by the great poet Nguyen Du: "Two mouths speak in unison." And with the selection of mature bamboo for the kite frame, after the kite frame is completed, nylon is used to make the wings so that the kite is both lightweight and resistant to rain and sun. Before nylon was available, people used paper to make kite wings, grinding glutinous rice into flour and cooking it to make glue to bind the parts together. The kite string is also made from the bark of mature bamboo. After completion, the flute and kite are attached together to form a kite flute.

Flying kites is a refined pastime enjoyed by many in the countryside - Photo: Internet

The people of Xuan Uc not only play with kites but also hold kite-flying competitions. These competitions are organized by kite enthusiasts from many other villages in Quynh Luu district, and can be held two or three times a summer. The kite that flies highest, stays on its string, and produces a loud, clear, and crisp sound is the winner. Life and the struggle for survival have led each person from this coastal area in a different direction, but deep in their hearts, they still cherish those idyllic summer afternoons spent together tending buffalo, cutting grass, and flying kites in the fields.

Watching the grandchildren and great-grandchildren surrounding Grandpa Kham as he makes kites, one understands how long ago he passed on his love for kites to his descendants. And that love will help the kites fly higher and further, so that kites will be revived not only in the memories of generations of people in Xuan Uc village.

Thai Orchid