Yeonnalligi, Korean kite flying

By Korea.net Honorary Reporter Nurul Huda Binti Abdul Razak

Source = Encyclopedia of Korean Seasonal Customs: Encyclopedia of Korean Folklore and Traditional Culture Vol. 1, All About Korea: Stories, Songs, Crafts and More Hardcover and National Folk Museum of Korea 

Yeonnalligi is traditional Korean kite flying dating back to as far as the sixth century A.D., as the practice is mentioned in the biography of Kim Yu-sin (595-673) in Samguk Sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms) published in 1145. In other Korean books and documents, kites were also referred to as punggeum, bangyeon, pungyeon and jiyeon, the latter term being popular and widely used. Kites were used for military purposes such as sending messages.

Yeonnalligi is recorded in Samguk Sagi (History of the Three Kingdoms). (Cultural Heritage Administration) 

Today, yeonnalligi is often done on Seollal, the first day in the lunar calendar and the day of the second new moon after winter solstice. During Seollal, which lasts around three days, Koreans like to return to their hometowns to spend time with family. Among the traditions of the holiday are observance of ancestral rituals, wearing hanbok and doing traditional deep bows to elders. To make Seollal more meaningful and happy, Koreans like to play traditional games after exchanging having Lunar New Year's greetings and holding memorial services. Men and boys usually play yeonnalligi kite flying  or jegichagi, a game in which an object wrapped in paper or cloth is kicked by players. In contrast, women and girls jump up and down on a seesaw in a game called neolttwigi.

Koreans fly kites during Seollal Lunar New Year. (Korea.net)

Yeon  is a traditional Korean kite made from bamboo pieces in a rectangular shape. A user can control the kite by winding or unwinding its string wrapped around a reel. The kite has a round hole in the middle. The string is tied in the middle on bamboo pieces and then connected directly to the reel for control. The kite's shield is made from the strong but thin mulberry paper. People decorate their kites with vivid colors so that their kites can be spotted from long distance. Some people write their names and birthdays on their kites with the phrase “Bad luck be gone, good luck stay.” Koreans fly kites at beaches during low tide or open areas outside of villages. On the evening of Jeongwol Daeboreum or Great Full Moon Festival, kites are usually released by cutting their string. An old belief is that releasing kites can ward off bad luck in the new year. Some engage in kite fighting by trying to fly their kites higher than those of others or even getting their kites to cut others' kite string. For this reason, kite string is coated with ground glass or porcelain powder to make it easier to slice through an opponent's kite string.

Korea has many varities of kites. (Korea.net Flickr)

wisdom117@korea.kr

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