What is the ancient name of lanterns?

China Lantern, called Lantern in ancient times, is an ancient traditional handicraft of Han nationality. Originated in the Western Han Dynasty more than 2 100 years ago, red lanterns symbolizing reunion were hung around the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month to create a festive atmosphere. Its outer layer is mostly made of thin strips or iron wires, covered with transparent things, such as paper or yarn, as well as internal combustion lamps and candles.

Lantern is an ancient lamp. As early as the eighth century BC in the Tang Dynasty, there were records of the reasons for using lanterns. There were lanterns in China after the Qin and Han Dynasties, and paper lanterns may have been invented after the Western Han Dynasty. The custom of watching lanterns on the Lantern Festival originated in the early Han Dynasty, but there is also a legend that the emperor of the Tang Dynasty put lanterns in Shangyang Palace and tied them to celebrate the peace of the country and people.

The origin of lanterns

There are many theories about the origin of playing lanterns. A widely circulated saying is that the custom of playing lanterns on the Lantern Festival began in the Eastern Han Dynasty. Emperor Liu Zhuang of the Eastern Han Dynasty advocated Buddhism. He heard that on the fifteenth day of the first month, a Buddhist monk watched the Buddhist relics and lit lanterns to worship the Buddha, so all the gentry and ordinary people hung lanterns that night.