Wednesday, June 1, 2022

Musical instrument: fengzheng (風箏)

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Chinese historical reference works discussing the fengzheng

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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