Have you ever wondered what that symbol is emblazoned on the tail of every Malaysian aircraft flown by the Malaysia Airlines System (MAS)? Although for most people, it is nothing more than an emblem, but it has great meaning for each and every Malaysian that makes them proud. Known as ‘wau’, it is one of the oldest traditional games in Malay culture. Dancing in the blue sky, a wow or the kite is accompanied by a hummer, which produces various buzzes and purrs as it rises in the wind. There is something mystical about the way this kite defies gravity by swinging and slowly climbing through the sky.
The kites are flown after the rice harvest season ends. People are happy and free to pursue their hobbies. A Malaysian kite combines the best of skilled workmanship, dazzling colors and decoration. It showcases the creativity of the Malay people and their craftsmanship in creating a unique art form that is of the highest aesthetic standard possible. A Malaysian kite is not a schoolboy toy as it is normally 1.5 meters by 1.7 metres. Is named wow because the shape of its wing is similar to an Arabic letter that is pronounced as “wow”. It has also been postulated that the word “wau” originated from the Dutch word “wauw” which refers to a large predatory bird found in Southeast Asia. When Melaka fell to the Dutch in 1641, the word was introduced to the local population.
wow It can appear in all kinds of shapes, but the main three are the famous Wau Bulan or lunar kite, named for the shape of its crescent-shaped tail, the Wau Jala Budi or female kite, which adopts the curves of a woman. , and the Wau Burung. Puyuh, the broken quail kite with bars. Despite their different names, these kites share the same basic bird shape, with slight variations to their wings and tail.
The history and legends associated with the Malayan kite are as colorful as its designs. In ancient times, the coastal inhabitants of the Malay Peninsula used kites equipped with lines and hooks to fish. Kites were also flown to act as flying scarecrows while farmers were busy in the paddy fields. In an episode of the Makyong dance, a love story culminates in a happy ending when two lovers meet again in an unusual mode of transportation. Clinging to a giant kite that the monsoon winds blew into the air, a Malay prince flew to his beloved and landed in his enchanted castle amidst the clouds. The wau has had an even more dramatic role in the battle against a foreign army. Legend has it that a Malayan army was surrounded and about to surrender due to lack of food and water. One stormy night, the chief of the warriors ordered his troops to fly a large number of kites fitted with bows. The loud buzz that was created scared the enemy forces, who did not want to fight what they perceived to be demonic forces from heaven!
It takes 2 days to 2 weeks of skill and patience to make a wow. The frame is made of bamboo stems, which are divided into thin strips. The best species of bamboo for making kites is prickly bamboo, which is strong but flexible. Each frame of a kite must have a ‘head’, a ‘spine’, a ‘waist’, a ‘wing’ and a ‘tail’. After the frame is built, the designs are traced onto a glossy, tinted satin paper and then carefully cut and glued onto the paper that is glued to the bamboo frame. The humming bow is attached to the kite’s head, which is finally decorated with tassels on the tail to produce the kite’s “song”.
Each wow it is designed according to its own set of elaborate motifs, adhering to the traditional style of art expected of each design. All designs must have a central flower called ibu from which vines, leaves and flowers sprout. The vine symbolizes the life path of a man and the flowers, women. The more meandering the vines, the more twists and turns in a man’s life means the more interesting the person’s life is. On the earliest kites, flowers were depicted from the side and back, analogous to the shy and reserved nature of women in those days, who never looked you directly in the face. Today, flowers are depicted from the front. The center sections of the left and right sides of the wings are left unpatterned to provide balance with the decorated areas. This empty area is called the “golden deer” and prevents the kite from being overwhelmed by too many patterns.
Aside from patterns, the choice of colors is also important in determining quality. Colors that clash or show strong contrast are frowned upon. Complementary or harmonious colors reflect the emotional state of the kite maker. Soft colors, such as shades of blue and purple, indicate that the kite maker has a serene nature.
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