[Explanation] In Xi'an, there is an 83-year-old man who has been "obsessed" with dynamic kite making for more than 30 years. He is Zhang Tianwei, the inheritor of Zhang's kite making skills, the intangible cultural heritage of Shaanxi Province.
In 2019, he spent 4 months using more than 900 bamboo strips and more than 3,000 lashing points to make a "Qin Shihuang Mausoleum No. 1 Bronze Chariot Horse" kite. The subtlety lies in the horses and ties on the chariot. The details such as the rope soldiers can be moved by external forces, which is amazing.
[Concurrent] Zhang Tianwei, the inheritor of Zhang's kite making skills, the intangible cultural heritage of Shaanxi Province
This bronze carriage was unearthed in Lintong near us. It is one of the eight wonders of the world. I myself make a dynamic kite. I want to make this bronze carriage and horse dynamic. This bronze carriage is a wind wheel. As power, what I imagine is (with) wind wheel power, and then through this mechanical transmission, four horses can raise their heads and swing their tails, and four hooves can alternately walk around. Another is that the driver can hold the reins, and the head can be Turn left and right.
[Explanation] According to Zhang Tianwei, a part of the "No. 1 Bronze Carriage" was produced as early as 2014, and the remaining parts were completed in 2019 and assembled. It took 8 months before and after.
He said that the "chariot" itself can't fly. It needs the help of the 48 rows and 192 Terracotta Warriors in the back to pull it up.
[Concurrent] Zhang Tianwei, the inheritor of Zhang's kite making skills, the intangible cultural heritage of Shaanxi Province
The most difficult problem is that the first one is to find the information, and then the drawing must be drawn. According to the requirements of this mechanical production, it is designed. After all the designs are completed on the drawings, there is no problem. I will start to do it, and then use it all. This bamboo strip is made of bamboo sticks. Once shared, there are about 900 bamboo strips, and there are more than 3000 binding points.
[Explanation] As a child, Zhang Tianwei liked to tinker with machinery and disassemble clocks and watches, etc. Later, he engaged in mechanical work, which also laid the foundation for creating dynamic kites.
In 1986, he began to study the production of dynamic kites, combining flat kites with mechanical shafts to produce the "moving" "Zhang's kites", known as the "first person in China's dynamic kites".
In June 2009, "Zhang's Kite Making Skills" was listed as the second batch of intangible cultural heritage in Shaanxi Province.
The reporter saw in Zhang Tianwei's studio that all kinds of handmade kites were hung on the wall, such as crabs, roosters in a bucket frame, Journey to the West, etc., all of which looked very exquisite.
Alcohol lamps, planes, carving knives and other tools are placed on the table in the living room.
Zhang Tianwei said that it takes an average of 4 to 5 months to create a work. So far, nearly 50 dynamic kites have been produced.
To this day, Zhang Tianwei still insists on making kites every day and devotes himself to the "kites" and "careers" he loves.
He told reporters that the only hope now is that more young people like dynamic kites and thus pay attention to traditional handicrafts.
Reporter Mei Yilong reports from Xi'an, Shaanxi
Editor in charge: [Zhang Kaixin]