Legends
A
Chinese general called Han Hsin in 169 B.C. is said to have used
a kite to work out the distance between his army and the walls
of the palace. He did this in order measure the distance that
his troops had to dig their tunnels, underground in order to enter
the palace.
Chinese legends
also tell of a certain Liu Pang who, when his army were surrounded
by opposing forces had the idea of building large kites with sounding
devices built inside them. These kites were flown at night above
the army of Huan Theng. The troops were so frightened by the mysterious
noises above them that they panicked and fled.
Kites have
been used to carry men for centuries. There are accounts of prisoners
being punished using this method. Emperor Wen Hsuan Ti of the
Koa Yang Dynasty is said to have placed his prisoners in kites
and flown them from a tower. If they survived the flight he released
them.
In the thirteenth
century there are accounts of men being forced to fly in kites
in order to establish if a ship would survive a voyage. A victim
was placed inside a kite. If the kite successfully flew the seamen
believed the journey would be prosperous one. If the kite did
not leave the ground it was thought that the ship would not complete
the voyage. The ship stayed in the port that year.