Generally, there’re three kinds of legends for the origin of kite, which are, first, Legend of Bamboo Hat and Leaf; second, Legend of Sailing Ship and Tent; third, Legend of Bird. The conclusion that China is the origin of kite is recognized through out the whole world.

Legend of Bamboo Hat and Leaf

Bamboo hat was, in ancient time, used for protecting people from rain and heat. It came into people’s life when they began farming, especially in tropical and semitropical areas. The bamboo hat was simply made of the soft fiber of trees. It is said that a sudden violent wind blew his hat away while a farmer was working in the field. He rushed and chased after it. He caught the string of the hat, which is used to fasten it on the head. The hat was flying in the wind with the string in the farmer’s hand. He felt it’s so interesting that he did it for fun later. Afterwards, it evolved into the kite today.

Legend of leaf comes from the southern China. It’s said that people adored the phenomena of the flying leaves in the wind. Thus, they used thread to fly leaves. Gradually, it became the activity of flying kite today. In China, the earlier time, the Gaoshan nationality in Taiwan and Li nationality in Hainan Island used leaves of bread tree to make kites.

Legend of Sailing Ship and Tent

Boat appeared long time ago. It began to help people as early as 2000 BC. Sailing ship came later. Sails appeared around Yu time, which draw support from wind. Based on this principle, kites were made. It’s also said that kite originates from the northern China in which people used to live. People made kites by imitating the tents flying in the sky, which happened when there was heavy wind. After that, it became a kind of amusement.

Legend of Bird

An outstanding characteristic of the ancient kites, in term of framework, shape and techniques on making and drawing, was based on the shape of bird, which is generalized according to the history recordation. Therefore, we can draw a conclusion that the first invention of kite was inspired by birds. People made kite base on birds as well as name it. People love bird. Making kite by imitating bird symbolized the pursuing of people for happy life.

Kite originates from China

Kites originated in China, which no one, in the world of kites deny. Mo Di ,who was an ancient scientist, made the earliest kite in China. According to the “Bigraphy of Mr Hanfei",  Mo Di lived on Lu Mountain. (The area of Qingzhou in Shandong Province nowadays.) "By cutting wood into a fly .It took him three years. One day of fly in the sky ,then he failed." means Mo Di made a bird by using wood , which took him 3 years to research on that. Unfortunately, it’s broken after a whole day’s flying. This bird, made by Mo Di, was the earliest kite in China.