Wonderful Thoughts Dancing in the Wind—Research of Weifang Kite Chromatology

YAN Chun-mei

【Abstract】： Weifang kite is a miracle in folk art， in particular， the color matching of the kite embodies the features of folk culture. The unique color language of Weifang kite has opened a gorgeous new window for modern artists， and brought measureless inspirations and enlightenment for modern design.

【Key words】： Folk culture; Color matching; Modern design

I. Historical origin of Weifang kite

Kite is called "paper kite" in the north and "accipiter nisus"in the south， its a kind of Chinese traditional folk toy shaped up by pasting and made fly via the wind. According to records， the earliest kite was derived from the warring state period， and made by Modi， the founder of mohism. Modi lived in Lu Mountain （an area in present Weifang， Shandong）. "It took three years for the kite to be made from wood， but one day for it to be broken after flying"， the "wood accipiter nisus" made by Modi was the earliest kite in China as well as in the world[1].

Weifang kites came into vogue in the Song Dynasty， and became more widespread in the period of Ming and Qing Dynasty. The kites reached its heyday during the reign of Emperor Qianlong. Zheng Banqiao， who had been the county leader of ancient Weifang， depicted the custom and grand occasion of flying kites incisively and vividly in his poem： "Paper kites fly everywhere as snow， a pretty girl swings with her gorgeous silk skirt swaying with the wind， who is more beautiful than a butterfly in spring"[2]. The long history of Weifang kite as well as the custom and grand occasion of local kite flying are presented on the memorial wall in Weifang Kite Square.Today， Weifang is praised highly as"the World Kite Capital"， and the headquarter of International Kite Federation is located in Weifang Kite Museum.

II. Color expression of Weifang kites

Color is an important symbol to differentiate characteristics of Chinese folk fine arts， because it has participated in the generation of emotions as part of life， while these emotions are expressed by public creations and involved in life again and reflects the unique local features of folk art. In the use of color， Weifang kites mainly adopt color contrast and color harmony， which form the unique characteristics of colors of Weifang kites.

1. Application of contrasting color technique in traditional Weifang kites

Coloring of traditional Weifang kites is affected by the ancient "five-color-outlook"， namely， it adopts red， green， yellow， white and black as the principle colors or even all the applied colors. For instance， colors of kites with dragon head and centipede body are affected by the gaudy and showy Yang Jiabu New Year Pictures. These kites adopt bright red as the dominant hue and green as the complementary hue， in addition， contrasting colors of ultramarine vs. bright yellow and vermilion vs. purple are used in details to create a strong visual effect， making kites burst out creativity and vitality in an environment of color contrast.

2.Application of color harmony technique in traditional Weifang kites

Color harmony means that several colors are mixed together to form a graceful， harmonious color relationship， and organized together coordinately and uniformly to make the appreciators pleasant. The colors of traditional Weifang kites are not changeless. Tang family fully adopted the color harmony theory understood by modern people and created the pictographic kite "double swallows"， which is known locally to be a fabulous product. The colors of "double swallows" give people a sense of wholeness and strengthen the vividness of the kite， hence， the kite can be lifelike， light and flexible， with a visual effect of breaking the unitary pattern of kites.

III. Effect of color application of Weifang kites on modern design

As a vital element of Weifang kites， color has become a symbol. Although color is not frequently applied in Weifang kites， the combinations of several colors by contrast and color harmony technique achieve a bright and colorful effect. Coloring of Weifang kites has an enlightening role on modern design， the color contrast is mostly strong and adds to the vivid images and warm and lively artistic atmosphere make the kites possess a unique ornamental effect， which has certain influence on modern decorative design. Besides， the rendering and connections between colors and the layer coating technique adopt the traditional line drawing technique， which is worthy of reference by modern design. Undoubtedly， the reference of color language of Weifang kites has opened a gorgeous new window for modern artists， and brought measureless inspirations and enlightenment for modern design[3].

IV. Summary

The colors of kites are so charming and attractive， whether it be the use of  traditional gorgeous colors or the use of elegant， high-hearted colors， Weifang kites move from tradition to modern based on their unique charm[4]. Therefore， based on the understanding of development vein of Chinese folk art colors， color creations should be carried out by bold use of new perspectives， the road suitable for development of the new era should be searched in the essence of Chinese folk art colors， and the colors of modern design should be constantly enriched and improved， so that modern design can achieve a new breakthrough in colors.

References：

[1].Liu Zhen.Kite Craft[M].Shandong Friendship Publishing House，1990.

[2].Chen Xin，Zhang Yang，Zhou Xiaoru.A Brief Analysis of Cultural Connotation of Weifang Kite Colors：[Popular Literature][D].2013-6.

[3].Yuan Fengmei. Discussion on Color Contrast in Folk Art：[Society Focus][D]2006-6.

[4].Qiao Lu.The Influence of Chinese Folk Art Colors on Modern Design Colors：[Art Review][D]2010-1.