Musical instrument: fengzheng
(風箏)
compiled by David Badagnani (rev. 29 July 2022)
In an effort to make this information more accessible, this document contains resources related to the Chinese sound-producing device called fengzheng (風箏)--a kite developed in the late Tang Dynasty, to which bamboo whistles have been affixed, causing it to produce flute-like tones while flown in the air.
Links to textual sources are highlighted in green.
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Chinese historical reference works discussing the fengzheng
Chinese historical reference works discussing the fengzheng
● Xunchulu《詢芻錄》
A work by Chen Yi, a Ming Dynasty author.
「風箏即紙鳶，又名風鳶。五代李鄴於宮中作紙鳶，引線乘風為戲。後於鳶首以竹為笛，使風入竹，聲如鳴箏，故名風箏。」
The fengzheng (風箏) is a paper kite, also known as fengyuan (風鳶, wind kite). Li Ye of the Five Dynasties made a paper kite in the palace, with the leading cord [used to] ride the wind for amusement. Later, the kite head used bamboo as a flute, and when the wind entered the bamboo, the sound was like the playing of a zheng; therefore, it was called fengzheng [(literally "wind zheng")].
Additional texts describing the fengzheng:
《北梦琐言》
（骈）镇蜀曰，以南诏侵暴，乃筑罗城，城四十里。朝廷虽加恩赏，亦疑其固护。或一日闻奏乐声，知有改移，乃题《风筝》寄意曰：“夜静弦声响碧空……”旬日报到，移镇渚宫。
《升庵诗话》
古人殿阁，檐棱间有风琴、风筝，皆因风动成音，自谐宫商。元微之诗：“为啄风筝碎珠玉。”高骈有《夜听风筝》诗……此乃檐铁马也。今名纸鸢曰风筝，亦非也。
《随园诗话》
唐高骈节度西州，又调广陵，咏《风筝》云：“依稀似曲才堪听，又被风移别调中。”吴（信辰）官山左，又调楚江，《咏怀》云：“阿婆经岁抚婴孩，饥饱寒暄总费猜。才识呱呱真痛痒，家人又报乳娘来。”两意相同。
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Chinese poems mentioning the fengzheng
《风筝》（一作题风筝寄意）
Fengzheng
作者：高骈（唐）
by Gao Pian (Tang Dynasty, 821-887)
夜静弦声响碧空，宫商信任往来风。
依稀似曲才堪听，又被移将（一作风吹）别调中。
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Additional Web materials about the fengzheng
● 20-minute mini-documentary from 2022 about the ban yao fengzheng (板鹞风筝) of Nantong, southeastern Jiangsu province, east-central China:
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Thanks to Jarek Szymanski and Riccardo Yeh for assistance with this page.
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