Clay Whistling Tigers
2026-07-24
tie-dye
2026-07-24
More than 2,000 years ago, the kite was born in China— a marvel that fused the most advanced technology of its time. Back then, kites were far from toys. They served a military purpose, making them the world’s very first “drones.”
The four crafts of kite-making—tying the frame, pasting the paper, painting the design, and flying it high— embody intricate principles of aerodynamics and balance, while sparking creativity and nurturing an artistic soul. For over a thousand years, kite-making has remained a beloved pastime across all walks of life. Even Cao Xueqin, the author of Dream of the Red Chamber, was a devoted kite enthusiast— and the founder of the renowned “Cao-style kite” tradition.
In old Beijing, there once lived a bird called the mayàn— the “sparrow swallow,” which nested beneath the eaves of city gates and ancient temples. Though the bird itself has long since vanished from the skyline, its image lives on in the art of kite-making, giving rise to the iconic Beijing “Shayan Kite”— the swallow kite— one of the capital’s most beloved cultural symbols.
The Shayan kite is a masterpiece of form. Its head mirrors the swallow’s: brows arched upward, eyes bright and alive. Its tail, shaped like scissors, is sleek and sharp, clean in every line. Across its body, artisans paint bats, peaches, peonies— vivid in color, rich with auspicious meaning. Yet its structure is elegantly simple, granting it extraordinary flight: it soars in a gentle breeze, and holds steady in a gale. No wonder it has been the favorite of Beijing’s people, generation after generation.
Did you know that Shayan kites even have characters?
The slender swallow represents the graceful woman. The stout swallow embodies the mighty man. The little child swallow captures the innocence of youth. And the twin swallows in flight symbolize a harmonious marriage.
In every Shayan kite, the people of Beijing have poured their deepest wishes and dreams.
Each spring, swallows return from the south— heralding the rebirth of the earth, bringing tidings of joy.
Come to No. 93 Courtyard Museum. Craft your own Beijing Shayan kite— and send your little swallow soaring into the sky.
