Kong Lingmin, a 72-year-old Beijinger is the second generation maker of the Cao kite, which was developed by his father in the 1940s by drawing from a book on kite-making written by Cao Xueqin, author of A Dream of the Red Mansions, during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Kong, along with his father and son, have been identified as national non-material cultural heritage inheritors, with their works collected and featured by museums in both China and abroad.

Cao wrote the book on kite-making in order to teach the poor to make a living, Kong said, adding that it’s not only an honor but also a responsibility to be a cultural heritage inheritor.

“We should not only spread the techniques but also the spirit of social service,” Kong told Beijing Review.

(Photos by Wei Yao)

Copyedited by Rebeca Toledo

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