TRADISIONAL MALAY GAMES

KITE / WAU

In Malay culture, there are several types of traditional games that are very popular in Malaysia. These types of traditional games are differ in terms of their own history, characteristics, the reasons people play the games and more.

The word ‘Wau’ was derived from the Arabic letter ‘Wau’ as the shape of the wing resemblances to the outline of the particular letter. It was also said that the farmer in the past used Wau to scarecrow to ward off the birds from their paddy fields. In Malaysia, the most popular of all the Wau’s is ‘Wau Bulan’. It is was certain that the name fits one of the three country’s official kites, where the names takes the after the shape of the moon as the tail of the Wau itself look like to the crescent.

• History

Wau game arrival in Malaysia is uncertain validity date and origin. However, according to historian Clive Hart, a kite in Malaysia comes from China. This is because the design and character have in common with traditional kites from China. Kite in the past using a wide tree leaves. Possibility of evolution kite in Malaysia have also absorb cultural elements from China.

• Characteristic of Wau 

The typical size is 2.5 meters in width and 3.5 meters in length. This makes the decorations painted on the kite's body to be visible when it is flown high in the air. To make it more distinctive, wau bulan is normally decorated with large,strong-coloured patterns.

• Types of Wau