Have you ever wondered what that symbol is stamped on the tail of every Malaysian aircraft piloted by Malaysia Airlines System (MAS)? Although for most people it is nothing more than an emblem, it has a 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 wau or kite is accompanied by a buzz, which produces several hums and purrs when it rises with the wind. There is something mystical about the way this kite defies gravity by swinging and slowly climbing through the sky.

Kites fly after the rice harvest season is over. People are happy and free to pursue hobbies. A Malaysian kite combines the best of skilled workmanship, dazzling colors and décor. It showcases the creativity of the Malays and their artisan talents in creating a unique art form that has the highest level of aesthetics possible. A Malay kite is not a schoolboy toy, as it is normally 1.5 meters by 1.7 meters. Is named wau because the shape of its wing is similar to an Arabic letter that is pronounced “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 made its way to the local population.

Wau It can appear in all kinds of shapes, but the main three are the famous Wau Bulan or lunar kite, named for its crescent-shaped tail shape, the Wau Jala Budi or women’s kite, which adopts the curves of a woman. , and the Wau Burung. Puyuh, the forbidden broken quail kite. Despite their different names, all of these kites share the same basic, bird-like shape, with slight variations in their wings and tail.

The history and legends associated with the Malay kite are as colorful as its designs. In ancient times, the coastal inhabitants of the Malay Peninsula used kites with lines and hooks for fishing. Kites were also flown to act as flying scarecrows while farmers were busy in the rice fields. In an episode of the Makyong dance, a love story culminates with a happy ending when two lovers are reunited by an unusual means of transportation. Clinging to a giant kite carried through the sky by monsoon winds, a Malay prince flew to his lover and landed in his enchanted castle amid the clouds. The wau have played an even more dramatic role in the battle against a foreign army. Legend has it that a Malay army was surrounded and about to surrender for lack of food and water. One stormy night, the chief warrior ordered his troops to fly a large number of bowed kites. The loud hum that was created frightened the enemy forces, who did not want to fight what they perceived as demonic forces from heaven.

It takes 2 days to 2 weeks of skill and patience to make a wau. The frame is made of bamboo stalks, which are divided into thin strips. The best species of bamboo for kite making is hawthorn bamboo, which is strong but flexible. Each structure of a kite must have a “head”, a “backbone”, a “waist”, a “wing” and a “tail”. After the frame is built, the designs are traced onto a glossy stained glazed paper and then carefully cut out and pasted onto paper that is glued to the bamboo frame. The humming bow is attached to the head of the kite, which is finally decorated with tassels on the tail to produce the ‘song’ of the kite.

Each wau 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 where creepers, 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 mean that the more interesting the person’s life is. In older kites, the flowers were depicted from the side and from the back, analogous to the shy and reserved nature of the women of that time, who never looked you directly in the face. Today, the flowers are depicted head-on. The center sections on the left and right sides of the wings are left devoid of patterns to provide balance with the decorated areas. This empty area is called the “golden deer” and it prevents the kite from being overwhelmed by excessive patterns.

Aside from patterns, the choice of colors is also important in determining quality. Colors that collide or show strong contrast are frowned upon. Complementary or harmonious colors reflect the emotional state of the kite builder. Soft colors like blue and purple hues indicate that the kite maker has a serene nature.

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