The evolution of the Lantern Festival

The evolution of the Lantern Festival

The evolution of the Lantern Festival, the Lantern Festival is what we call the 15th day of the first month, but also after the Spring Festival, a very significant festival, the ancients called it on the first day of the first year of the festival, and the general management of the festival is called the Lantern Festival, in the end, on the first day of the first year of the festival is how to evolve into the Lantern Festival it? See more on the evolution of the Lantern Festival below.

Historical development of the Lantern Festival

1, the Tang Dynasty, in the unprecedented power of the Tang Dynasty, the Lantern Festival is very prosperous, whether it is the capital or the townships, everywhere hanging colored lights, people also make a huge lamp wheel, lamp tree, lamp post, etc., full of fire, very prosperous and lively.

2, the Song Dynasty, women will have a trip to enjoy the lights of the time, there is since the night of the day, men and women confused. In addition to these activities, some of the officials will give the people around the red envelope. And in the capital of the king and the people will be to have together on the Lantern Festival, and some will have a horror of color up, or directly to the display of prison equipment, and so on.

3, the Yuan Dynasty, the holiday is basically canceled, because the emperor of the Yuan Dynasty that life is movement, work is equal to rest, so cancel the holiday.

2, Ming Dynasty, the Festival of Lights lasted longer, since the first eight days of the first month to the first seventeen days of the first month of the whole ten days, to show the song and dance.

3, the Qing Dynasty, the Manchus into the Central Plains, the court no longer run the Lantern Festival, but the folk Lantern Festival is still spectacular. Lantern Festival Qing Dynasty is only three days, but the lights are bright, lights are more exquisite fantasy, still very attractive.

Lantern Festival Festivals

1, eat Lantern Festival. The first month of the fifteenth to eat Lantern Festival, is a long-standing custom in China. Lantern that "dumplings", it is the practice of components of different flavors, but eat the Lantern on behalf of the same meaning: on behalf of the reunion and beautiful, the more the days of the more red-hot. As the saying goes, "Harmony breeds wealth", which shows how important family harmony and family reunion are for a complete family. Therefore, in the Lantern Festival must eat with the family "Lantern".

2, guess the riddle. Lantern appreciation is an important program of the Lantern Festival, Lantern riddle is a word game derived from the Lantern Festival, also known as Lantern Tiger. The riddle will be affixed to the lanterns for people to guess shot, riddles more focused on the meaning of the text, and there are 24 kinds of riddles, commonly used curtains, swings, phoenixes and other grams, has formed a unique folk culture.

3, stilt-walking. Stilt-walking is a popular mass skill show. Stilts are a kind of ancient Chinese opera, which appeared as early as the Spring and Autumn Period. The earliest introduction of stilts in China is "Lie Zi - Said Fu": "Song has Lanzi, to skill dry Song Yuan. Song Yuan called and made to see his skills."

The celebration of the Lantern Festival in each dynasty varied according to the emperor's preferences, but the only constant was the festive atmosphere of the Lantern Festival. The main customs of the Lantern Festival include eating Lantern Festival, guessing lantern riddles, stilt walking, and many other activities that are too numerous to list.

Origin of the Lantern Festival

The origin of the Lantern Festival is very ancient, originating from the ancient man to drive away evil spirits with torches during the festival. This festival was to sacrifice to the gods of heaven, and since it was carried out at night, it was natural to carry torches, and then it gradually evolved into the Lantern Festival.

Lantern Festival is a traditional festival in China, as early as two thousand years ago in the Western Han Dynasty.

Lantern Festival began in the Eastern Han Dynasty during the reign of Emperor Mingdi. As Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty advocated Buddhism, it coincided with Cai Chuan's return from India, where he claimed that on the 15th day of the first lunar month in the country of Magadha, monks gathered to venerate the Buddha's relics, which was an auspicious time to visit the Buddha

Cai Chuan claimed that on the 15th day of the first lunar month in the country of Magadha, monks gathered to venerate the Buddha's relics, which was an auspicious time to visit the Buddha.

In order to promote Buddhism, Emperor Mingdi of the Han Dynasty ordered that on the night of the 15th day of the first month, "lamps were burned to show the Buddha's face" in palaces and monasteries. Therefore, the custom of burning lamps on the night of the 15th day of the first month, with the expansion of the influence of Buddhist culture and Taoist culture to join, gradually passed down in China.

Since then, this Buddhist ceremonial festival gradually expanded into a grand folk festival. The festival has gone through a process of development from the court to the folk, from the Central Plains to the whole country.

In addition, there is another theory that the Lantern Festival originated from the Torch Festival. During the Han Dynasty, people held torches in the countryside and fields to drive away insects and beasts, hoping to alleviate insect pests and praying for a good harvest. Since the Sui, Tang and Song dynasties, the festival has become even more popular. Tens of thousands of people participated in the songs and dances, from the first day of dusk to the next day until dark.

Until today, people in some areas of Southwest China are still on the 15th day of the first month of the reed wood or twigs made of torches, groups of people holding up torches in the fields or sunbathing field dance.

With the changes in society and the times, the customs of the Lantern Festival have changed considerably, but it is still a traditional folk festival in China.

Legends of the Lantern Festival

There are some folk legends about the origin of the Lantern Festival.

1, the Han Wendi for the victory of the rebellion, according to legend, the Han Wendi in the first month of the 15th day to calm the "Zhulu chaos", so the day will be designated as the Lantern Festival.

After the death of Liu Bang, Emperor Gaozu of Han, Liu Ying, son of Empress Lu, ascended the throne as Emperor Hui of Han. Emperor Hui was weak and indecisive, and the power gradually fell into the hands of Empress Lu. After the death of Emperor Hui of Han, Empress Lu took over the government and turned Liu's world into Lu's world. The old ministers of Liu's clan were y indignant, but they were afraid of the cruelty of Empress Lu and dared not speak out in anger.

After the death of Empress Lu, her family was in fear of being harmed and ostracized. So, they secretly gathered at the home of the upper general Lu Lu Lu and ****plotted to do something rebellious, in order to completely seize Liu's kingdom.

The story reached the ears of Liu's clan member, Liu Sang, the king of Qi. In order to protect Liu's kingdom, Liu Sang decided to raise an army to crush Zhu Lu. Afterwards, Liu Sang contacted Zhou Bo and Chen Ping, who were veterans of the founding of the state, and designed to remove Lv Lu, and the "Lv Rebellion" was finally stabilized.

After the rebellion, Liu Heng, the second son of Liu Bang, was crowned Emperor Wen of Han. The Wendi Emperor was so impressed that he designated the 15th day of the first month of the lunar calendar as a day of joy for the people, and every house in the capital was decorated with lanterns and colors to celebrate.

From then on, the fifteenth day of the first month has become a folk festival celebrated by all, the Lantern Festival.

According to legend, Emperor Wu of Han Dynasty had a favorite minister named Dongfang Shuo, who was kind and funny. One winter, it snowed for a few days, and Dongfang Shuo went to the imperial garden to give the emperor plum blossoms. When he entered the garden, he found a courtesan in tears, ready to throw herself into a well. The first time I saw this, I realized that it was a very important part of my life, and that I was not going to be able to do anything about it.

It turns out that the courtesan is named Yuan Xiao, and has two parents and a sister at home. Since she entered the palace, she never had the chance to meet her family. Every year to the end of the spring season, it is more than usual miss their families. She felt that it would be better to die than to be able to fulfill her filial duty beside her parents.

Dongfang Shuo understood what happened to the girl and sympathized with her, so he assured her that he would try to reunite her with her family.

One day, Dongfang Shuo went out of the palace to set up a divination booth on Chang'an Street, and many people were competing with him for divination. Unexpectedly, each person accounted for the request, are "the sixteenth day of the first month of the fire burning body" sign language. In a moment, Chang'an was in a panic, and people were asking for a solution to the disaster.

Dongfang Shuo said, "On the evening of the thirteenth day of the first month, the Fire God will send a red-clothed goddess down to visit the world, she is the messenger of the decree to burn Chang'an, I will copy the prophecy to give you guys, so that you can think of a way." After saying this, he threw down a red post and went away.

The people picked up the red post and rushed to the palace to report to the emperor.

Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty took over a look, only to see that it reads, "Chang'an in the robbery, the fire burned the Imperial Palace, fifteen days of fire, flaming red

2, Dongfang Shuo and the Lantern Girl This legend has to do with the custom of eating the Lantern Festival

Lantern Festival night." He was so alarmed that he hastened to invite the resourceful Dongfang Shuo.

Dongfang Shuo pretended to think for a moment and said, "I heard that the Fire God King loves to eat dumplings, and doesn't Miss Lantern in the palace often make dumplings for you? Fifteen nights can let the palace girl Lantern good soup dumplings, long live the incense burning offerings, and pass orders to the capital every family to make soup dumplings, all together to honor the fire god king. And then Oracle subjects together in the fifteenth night to hang lights, firecrackers, fireworks all over the city, as if the city fire, so that you can hide from the Jade Emperor. In addition, notify the people outside the city to come into the city on the fifteenth night to watch the lanterns, and the palace people mixed in the crowd to eliminate the disaster."

Wudi was very happy to hear this, and passed the order to do as Dongfang Shuo's way.

On the 15th day of the first lunar month, the city of Chang'an was filled with lanterns and colorful lights, and the city was bustling with tourists. The parents of the palace maid Yuan Xiao also took their sister into the city to watch the lanterns.

When they saw a large lantern with the words "Lantern", they shouted in surprise: "Lantern! Yuanxiao!" The palace maid Yuanxiao heard the shouts and was finally reunited with her family at home.

After such a lively night, Chang'an City was indeed safe and sound. Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty was very happy, so he ordered to make dumplings for the Fire God on the fifteenth day of the first month, and to hang lanterns and set off fireworks all over the city on the fifteenth day of the first month as usual.

Because the palace maiden Lantern made the best dumplings, people called the dumplings Lantern, the day called "Lantern Festival".

3, worship Tai a god in accordance with the ancient customs of China, "yuan" refers to the moon is full, the year has the so-called "three yuan", that is, the first month of the fifteenth known as "on the first", July 15, known as "in the first", "in the first". The 15th of July is called the "middle", and the 15th of October is called the "lower". Therefore, the Lantern Festival is also known as the "Festival of the Upper Yuan".

The Lantern Festival is also known as the "Lower Yuan". Therefore, the Lantern Festival is also known as the "Festival of the First Emperor".

According to evidence, the origin of the Lantern Festival is said to be related to the worship of Tai Yi God. The god Taiyi, also known as Taiyi, is the god of wind, rain, famine and pestilence.

It is said that Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, who was sick for a long time, sought help from Taiyi God and was miraculously cured, so he began to build the Taiyi Shrine Altar to worship, and on the 15th day of the first lunar month, he spent the whole night, with a grand festival of lights. On the night of the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first month, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty came to the Ganquan Palace and presided over the activity of sacrificing to Taiyi God. This activity is seen by later generations as a precursor to the sacrifice to the God of Heaven on the 15th day of the first month.

Lantern Festival, also known as the Lantern Festival, in the North and South Dynasties, lanterns are very popular. The Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first month was called a good time because of its symbolism of a bright and joyful atmosphere. Men and women, young and old, will be wandering in groups in the lantern market, to enjoy the "fire up and down the platform fire, carriages and horses to see people" festive atmosphere.

The origin of the Lantern Festival and the legend

The origin of the Lantern Festival lights

The Lantern Festival lights is a traditional custom of our people. There is a legend about the origin of the lanterns.

It is said that a long time ago, there were a lot of ferocious birds and beasts, hurting people and livestock everywhere, so people organized to eliminate them.

It is said that there was a bird that landed on earth because it was lost, but was accidentally shot by an unknowing hunter. When the Heavenly Emperor found out about it, he was so enraged that he immediately sent a decree ordering the heavenly soldiers to come to earth on the 15th day of the first month to set fire to all human and animal properties on earth.

The emperor's daughter is kind-hearted, can not bear to see the people innocent suffering, so they risked their lives, secretly ride the clouds to the earth, the news told the people.

When the people heard the news, it was like a thunderclap on their heads, and they were so scared that they didn't know what to do. After a long time, only an old man came up with a method. The old man said, "On the fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth days of the first month, every family opens lanterns, lights firecrackers, and sets off fireworks at home. In this way, the Heavenly Emperor will think that people have been burned to death."

Everyone nodded their heads in agreement and went their separate ways to get ready. By the night of the fifteenth day of the first month, the emperor of heaven looked down and found a red light and loud noise on earth, thinking that it was the flames of a great fire burning, so his heart was very happy. In this way, people saved their lives and property.

From then on, every year on the 15th day of the first month, every family hangs lanterns, fireworks, to express gratitude to the good people.

In addition, there are some folklore experts believe that the Lantern Festival began with the fight between Buddhists and Taoists. It is said that in the Eastern Han Dynasty, when Emperor Mingdi came to China to preach, he encountered the Taoist rebuke. So, Regent Morten and Zhulan decided to compete with the Taoist priests in the court to test their magic power and to compete with each other.

Regis Merten and Dhuparin burned the statue of the sutra, but the statue was unharmed and glittered. The Ming Emperor saw it, feeling the Buddha's infinite, and then ordered the first month of the fifteenth day of the Buddha's divine transformation of the lamp, to show the Buddha's great brightness. In this regard, the Buddha lamp kindling in the land of China, and gradually prairie fire.

Later, Buddhism flourished, Buddhist monks actively persuade people to open the lamp on the 15th day of the first month, thinking that the act of opening the lamp is of immense merit. As a result, the Buddhist lamps gradually spread to the people, and the custom of opening lamps on the 15th day of the first month was established.

In this way, the Buddha's lanterns gradually spread in the folk, so that the first month of the 15th Zhang Lantern custom.

The origin and legend of the Lantern Festival

The development of Lantern Festival lanterns

Since the formation of the Lantern Festival lanterns, the dynasties have been to the 15th of the first month of the Lantern Festival, lanterns, lanterns as a major event. Liang Jianwendi once wrote a Leading Lights Fugue, which reads:

The southern oil is full, and the western paint is burning.

Su Zheng rest in peace, wax out of Longchuan.

The light of the slanting sunlight, the reflection of the fresh.

The words and phrases depicted the magnificent state of the palace lights at the Lantern Festival.

Emperor Yang of the Sui Dynasty held a grand `Gala' on the 15th day of the first month of every year to entertain the guests and ambassadors from all over the world. According to the "Sui Book - Music" records: the Lantern Festival is very grand, everywhere lights and colors, day and night singing, dancing and playing music. Performers amounted to more than 30,000 people, playing music up to nearly 20,000 people, the stage is four kilometers long, playing the people watching the lights is countless. Tens of thousands of people all night long, enjoy the fun, very lively.

To the Tang Dynasty, the development of the unprecedented Lantern Market; in the Tang Dynasty, has developed into a national carnival. Emperor Xuanzong of the Tang Dynasty in the heyday of the beginning of the Yuan Dynasty, Chang'an lamp market is very large, burning lamps 50,000, lanterns and lanterns in a variety of styles. The emperor ordered people to do giant light building up to more than 20, about 50 meters high, golden light, extremely spectacular.

The Tang Dynasty is the implementation of curfew, night ban drums on the sound of the ban on traveling, offending night to be punished. Only in the Lantern Festival, the emperor licensed three days, known as the "night".

According to the "New Tang Dynasty" records, every Lantern Festival night, the city of Chang'an to release lanterns for three days. Along to the Song Dynasty, the lights from three nights extended to five nights, lights outside the fireworks, performing a variety of juggling, the scene is more lively. According to "Tokyo Dreaming Records" recorded:

Every Lantern Festival, Kaifeng Imperial Street, ten thousand colored lanterns base lamps mountain, lanterns fireworks, gold and blue shot, embroidery and glitter. Kyoto girls singing and dancing, all the spectators. Tourists set the Imperial Street under the two corridors, strange arts and crafts, singing and dancing, scales cut, music and noise for more than ten miles.

At this time, the streets and alleys, tea houses and restaurants, lights and candles, drums and gongs, firecrackers, hundreds of miles of lights long bright and uninterrupted.

To the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Yuanzhang in Jinling after the throne, in order to make the capital prosperous and lively, and the provisions of the first eight of the first month on the lights, seventeen down lights, even Zhang ten nights, every house is hanging colorful lights. Lanterns depicting a variety of characters, dancing, birds flying flowers, dragons and fish leaping, lanterns and fireworks shine all night, drums and music play, noisy Dan, which was the longest in China at the time of the Festival of Lights.

By the Qing Dynasty, a wide variety of lanterns, there are a variety of good shape and color lights, which have a simple and elegant Palace Lanterns, colorful dragon lanterns, the structure of the delicate, rotating through the wind, horse lanterns, damask tied, lifelike figure lights. Qing Dynasty, although the court no longer run the Lantern Festival, but the folk Lantern Festival is still spectacular. The date of the festival was shortened to five

Qing Dynasty, although the court no longer run the festival, but the folk lanterns are still spectacular. The date of the festival was shortened to five days.

Palace lanterns, is China's world-famous special handmade lantern art. Palace lanterns for the palace and government production and use, so this name. The earliest existing lanterns are the Palace Museum collection of the Ming Dynasty lanterns.

The production of lanterns is very complex, mainly with carved wood, carved bamboo, skeleton copper for the skeleton, and then inlaid with gauze, glass or horn piece, above the painted landscapes, flowers and birds, fish and insects, people and other auspicious and festive themes. Top quality lanterns are also embedded with jade or white jade.

Palace lanterns are very rich in modeling, there are quadrilateral, hexagonal, octagonal, round beads, flower baskets, square victory, double fish, gourd, pan long, aiye, glasses, rings and many other varieties, especially hexagonal lanterns as a representative.

In 1915, Beijing lanterns were first sent to the Panama Universal Exposition, won the gold medal, and received international praise. Subsequently, the palace lanterns gradually to the practical direction of development, the emergence of a variety of chandeliers, wall lamps, table lamps and poke lamps and so on. China's palace lantern production in Beijing is the most famous, the palace lantern is one of the main varieties of ornamental lanterns.

Throughout the dynasties, Zhang lights, light events, fully expresses the people praying for a good harvest, blessing the peace of the world's best wishes.

Folk proverb: "Thirty fire, fifteen lights." The main content of the Lantern Festival is in the lamp, so it is also known as the Festival of Lights, therefore, it contains a strong lamp culture.

Ao Shan lamp post, fire trees and silver flowers, which is the most prominent landscape of the Lantern Festival, but also best summarizes the activities of this festival, that is, Zhang Lantern, fire. Zhang Lantern, fire is the most important Lantern Festival activities, the rest of the Lantern Tour and social games, are directly or indirectly from the development, derived.