What is the origin and significance of lanterns?

Lanterns originated in the Western Han Dynasty and have been circulated for more than 1800 years. It is said that lanterns are related to the Buddhist ceremony of lighting lamps to worship Buddha. It combines painting art, paper cutting art, bamboo weaving, iron hoop, paper binding and sewing, forming a unique China element and symbol. In terms of types, there are palace lanterns, gauze lanterns, chandeliers and lanterns. From the modeling point of view, there are figures, landscapes, flowers and birds, dragons and phoenixes, fish and insects, etc.

Lantern is a symbol of prosperity, reunion and happiness. A folk song expresses its festive color and function: "Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first month, Dragon Boat Festival red light in May, windless sky lantern in June, lotus lantern on the fifteenth day of July, Jade Rabbit lantern on the fifteenth day of August, and Nine Kongming lanterns on Chongyang."

Extended data:

Cultural concept of lanterns

Lantern in China combines painting art, paper cutting, paper binding, sewing and other techniques. Palace lanterns and gauze lanterns are the most famous lanterns made in ancient China. Lanterns are closely related to the people of China. There are lanterns everywhere in temples and living rooms. After careful calculation, there were lanterns in China after Qin and Han Dynasties and paper lanterns after the invention of paper in the Eastern Han Dynasty. ?

Lanterns in China are not only used for lighting, but also a symbol. Wu Dunhou said that he used to make bridal lanterns (that is, palace lanterns) to represent wedding celebrations; Bamboo lanterns announce that this is a funeral occasion; Umbrella lamp (word surname lamp), because the pronunciation of "lamp" and "ding" is the same, indicating that people are prosperous. Therefore, in the past, every household had a surname lamp hanging under the eaves and in the living room. Today, there are still two big lanterns in front of God's head, which is a continuation of this custom.

Phoenix net lanterns originated in the Western Han Dynasty and are said to be related to the ceremony of lighting lanterns to worship Buddha (pictured).