The kite was first invented in China about 3,000 years ago. The first recorded construction of a kite was by the Chinese philosopher Mo Zi, who spent three years building it from wood. Materials ideal for kite building, such as silk for the sail material and bamboo for a strong, light frame, were plentiful in China, and kites were soon used for many purposes. They were used to measure distances, to test the wind, and to communicate during military maneuvers. The earliest Chinese kites were often fitted with musical instruments to create sound as they were flown; they were decorated with mythical symbols. The first kites were flat and rectangular in shape, but kites are now designed in a variety of forms. Kites flown as hobby are particularly popular in Asia, where kite flying is a ritual incorporated into the national festivals of many countries. The Chinese people believe that kites are lucky, so they fly them to ward off evil spirits. In modern times as well, the kite has been used in important scientific research, including Benjamin Franklin’s famous experiment to prove that lightening is electricity. An experiment with a kite in the shape of a biplane helped the Wright brothers achieve their dream of making the world’s first controlled human flight in 1903. Modern kites have been used to pull sledges over snow-covered terrain in the Antarctic.