Mark Meckes
4th January 2001, 03:46 AM
Art of the Japanese KITE by Tal Streeter
ISBN 0-8348-0157-4 First edition 1974
This beautiful, well written book, is, as the author
says
`about kites I have seen, kite makers I have spoken
with, and kite festivals. The author also makes kites.
The book contains many photos and illustrations.
The smallest kite shown - the Edo is 2 1/2 X 4 inches
Another is a 300 ft.centipede kite.
Chapter 11 Bamboo and Paper 7pgs.
Though other chapters have numerous mention to bamboo
and paper (the book is not indexed), this chapter
provides more info on the history and importance of
two ingredients for kite making.
Here's some abbrev. excerpts:
BAMBOO
Bamboo is suitable for kites in several ways
the long thin strips are remarkably strong,
yet flexible allowing a kite to adjust to the wind
It's economical and readily available
Note -it's also biodegrdeable if you lose it in a tree
Kite makers have favorite sources to access bamboo
Commonly preferred time for harvesting bamboo - autumn
Seasoning can take from 6 months to 2 - 3 years
For special projects. bamboo is treated in various
ways, each craft person having their preference
One method is passing bamboo through a flame
Another is to boil the bamboo in a soda solution
Another opinion is that excess heat can reduce
strength and flexibility, though some is used to
remove oils
PAPER
Interesting account of history of paper and life of
papermakers...
Author met only one kite maker in Japan who also made
his own paper
Kite paper (and umbrella paper) is approx. the weight
of good bond paper.
Compared to other papers it is sturdier because it's
fibers are longer and stronger.
This hand made paper has extraordinary strength that
is much more capable of enduring stress then machine
made paper of similar weight....explains that` in the
West, kites of comparable size had to be covered in
cloth. The Japanese could have used cloth, but if they
had, we would have been left with a considerably
different art'...
Also discusses in detail, harvesting and processing
kozo for paper (a type of mulberry)
I wonder what species of mulberry, Morus sp ?....
I often find mulberry trees when maintaining bamboo
groves here in U.S...deposited through bird droppings.
Also mentions tororo, a species (?) of yam `from which
is obtained a material that helps the fibers to float
uniformly in the solution and prevents the sheets of
paper from sticking together when they are stacked'
According to Amazon.com this book is out of print,
Mark...even happier to have this book
ISBN 0-8348-0157-4 First edition 1974
This beautiful, well written book, is, as the author
says
`about kites I have seen, kite makers I have spoken
with, and kite festivals. The author also makes kites.
The book contains many photos and illustrations.
The smallest kite shown - the Edo is 2 1/2 X 4 inches
Another is a 300 ft.centipede kite.
Chapter 11 Bamboo and Paper 7pgs.
Though other chapters have numerous mention to bamboo
and paper (the book is not indexed), this chapter
provides more info on the history and importance of
two ingredients for kite making.
Here's some abbrev. excerpts:
BAMBOO
Bamboo is suitable for kites in several ways
the long thin strips are remarkably strong,
yet flexible allowing a kite to adjust to the wind
It's economical and readily available
Note -it's also biodegrdeable if you lose it in a tree
Kite makers have favorite sources to access bamboo
Commonly preferred time for harvesting bamboo - autumn
Seasoning can take from 6 months to 2 - 3 years
For special projects. bamboo is treated in various
ways, each craft person having their preference
One method is passing bamboo through a flame
Another is to boil the bamboo in a soda solution
Another opinion is that excess heat can reduce
strength and flexibility, though some is used to
remove oils
PAPER
Interesting account of history of paper and life of
papermakers...
Author met only one kite maker in Japan who also made
his own paper
Kite paper (and umbrella paper) is approx. the weight
of good bond paper.
Compared to other papers it is sturdier because it's
fibers are longer and stronger.
This hand made paper has extraordinary strength that
is much more capable of enduring stress then machine
made paper of similar weight....explains that` in the
West, kites of comparable size had to be covered in
cloth. The Japanese could have used cloth, but if they
had, we would have been left with a considerably
different art'...
Also discusses in detail, harvesting and processing
kozo for paper (a type of mulberry)
I wonder what species of mulberry, Morus sp ?....
I often find mulberry trees when maintaining bamboo
groves here in U.S...deposited through bird droppings.
Also mentions tororo, a species (?) of yam `from which
is obtained a material that helps the fibers to float
uniformly in the solution and prevents the sheets of
paper from sticking together when they are stacked'
According to Amazon.com this book is out of print,
Mark...even happier to have this book