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Hold up! Wau Bulan is not the only one – There are 9 other types of Wau that you should already know by now
But first, what is Wau?
- A traditional art that is similar to the modern kite.
- It is made from a bamboo frame and colored paper.
- According to historian Clive Hart, the origin of Malaysia‘s kite is from China. Both traditional kites have similar designs and characters.
- The design contains elements of authentic Malay culture, which can be seen in each design.
- The word Wau was derived from the word Thailand which then states like Kelantan, Terengganu, Perlis, and Kedah began to use the word as well.
- Unlike Johor, Kuala Lumpur, Melaka, these states use the word kite instead.
Why did it become an important part of Malay culture? During the earlier time, Wau was used as a scarecrow to scare off the birds from the farmers’ paddy fields. In time, people would make it fly like a kite, up high in the sky. It became a traditional game as a way to relieve after tirelessly working in the field. Soon, it became a popular hobby for the community of North West of Kedah, Perlis, Kelantan, and Terengganu. The next thing you know, there were annual festivals and the most beautiful kite competition happening between districts.
Up to this day, there are many individuals who continue the tradition of creating the traditional Wau design. The legendary Pok Shafie from Kelantan is one of them. Trust me, it’s not an easy job. This handmade’s process is so delicate which requires full dedication and time to get it done.
Yes, the most popular type would be the Wau Bulan. But little that you know, there are actually more beautiful and well-crafted traditional ones to be discovered. So when you are going for a vacay in Terengganu, Kelantan, and Kedah, make sure to give the Wau game a little try. You might like it!
There might be more than 10 types that are not so famously spoken or shown. But you can start with what we have first. Let’s get on it…
