Lanterns Light the Life
By admin on 2015-01-14

The Lantern Festival, traditionally an occasion for family reunion on the 15th day of the first month on the Chinese lunar calendar was celebrated as usual this year, with featuring dazzling fireworks in the full moon sky.

Under the sky, lanterns, another necessity for the festival, were seen in trees, streets, and children’s hands.They help cultivate a happy festival atmosphere enveloping the country with warm feelings.

While lanterns have developed into staple decor across the world, we are not discussing modern lanterns made of metal or in western style. Instead, we are interested in bamboo or wooden framed Chinese lanterns made of rice or silk paper. Chinese lanterns are believed the earliest portable means of illumination, used for 2000 years, in addition to a source of decoration.

According to historical records, lanterns were first made in China during the Han Dynasty (206BC –220 AD). In ancient days with no electricity, candles were applied to light the way at night, giving only a weak light that needed to be protected from the wind to prevent flickering or extinguishment. Therefore, lanterns were invented.

The function of illumination endows lanterns with a sense of hope, as well as for exorcising devils and calling down blessings. Due to the thin covering used to make paper lanterns, when lit they are very beautiful with a hazy and soft light, especially when they are colored, and different colors are used on different occasions: red for celebrative environments and white for funerals and temples. They may also carry designs, paintings or screens that show up brilliantly under a light source. When carrying the name or logo of a store, lanterns became typical advertisements in the old days.

Nowadays, there is no need to light candles for brightness in the night. However lanterns remain popular and esteemed among the Chinese, for illumination, decoration and holiday celebration.

In most cases today, paper lanterns have an insert for light bulbs. They can be either battery powered, or connected to an electrical wire. On festival or wedding occasions, lanterns of celebrative colors are the best choice for convenience and creating a joyful atmosphere.

Delighted by the beauty of lanterns, the Chinese devoted the second most important holiday to the paper lantern - Lantern Festival. Legend tells that in the Sui Dynasty in the sixth century, Emperor Yangdi who ruled the country for 13 years and ended the dynasty, invited envoys from other countries to see the colorful lighted lanterns and enjoy the gala performances. Colored glass and even jade were used to make lanterns, with figures from folk tales painted on them.

Paper lanterns also exhibit various shapes and sizes. From their shape, lanterns could be divided into two kinds: Fuzhou style and Quanzhou style. A common design is the ball or globe design, which holds its spherical shape by being stretched over strips of bamboo.

"Red lantern" is generally accepted as the most popular of all lanterns, since red means happiness in Chinese culture, and was also associated with the country itself during ancient imperial times. Today, red lanterns hang high during festival celebrations, weddings and even business openings that are on a grand scale.

In contrast, “fancy lantern”, of diversified colors, is made of patterned paper over bamboo shims. These traditional Chinese handcraft produces are widely used to decorate on festivals and holidays, especially the Lantern Festival. Many traditional lanterns fit with the description of “fancy”, such as palace lanterns, lanterns with revolving figures, gauze lanterns, wall lanterns and glass silk lanterns.

The “Name lantern” is made of white rice paper and is painted with the owner’s name.

Combined with other Chinese traditional art forms, such as calligraphy, painting and paper cuts, lanterns are a highly wrought craft. Commonly, painting and calligraphy on lanterns could be firstly finished on the rice paper and then pasted on the bamboo frame. Another way is to paint or write on blank finished lanterns, a skill demanding but more brilliant and vivid.

To make a simplified lantern is not that difficult. As long as you have all the materials in hand, you can make a lantern yourself at home. The equipment needed are bamboo sticks, rice paper, thread and some rice paste, which all could be found at a Chinese art store.

First, cut bamboo into pieces half an inch inwidth, clear of all nodal surfaces.

Bend the bamboo sticks. The flame of a candle can make the bending easier. The smaller the paper lantern - the dimmer the flame. Dip the sticks into cold water to reinforce the shape after heating.

Fasten the components with thread to constitute the framework. Tape a stick to the bottom to facilitate candle there later.