Chinese lantern design2/3/2024 ![]() During the Yongzheng era in the Qing Dynasty, an old man in Hebei Province was very skillful in lantern construction. The origin of palace lanterns is thought to have come about as follows. Gradually, this Buddhist ritual became a popular festival. To promote Buddhism, Emperor Mingdi thus ordered that in addition to the palace and temples, all his subjects should display lightened lanterns on the evening of this day. Emperor Mingdi was a devoted Buddhist, and he was told that it was a tradition to light lanterns to worship Buddha on the 15th day of the first lunar month. The custom of displaying lanterns at the Lantern Festival originated in the Eastern Han Dynasty. There are many legends about the origin of the Lantern Festival. (Image: via Pixabay) Legends of the origin of the Lantern Festival In the Qing Dynasty, red lanterns were exclusively made for the royal court. ![]() ![]() In fact, there is a street named Dengshikou (lantern market) in Beijing today. During the reign of Emperor Yongle, in addition to erecting the Dali Bie Shan Lamp Post at the Meridian Gate, he also established a lantern market outside the Hua Gate. When Zhu Yuanzhang of the Ming Dynasty moved the capital to Nanjing, tens of thousands of lanterns were launched along the Qinghuai River. Since that time, the lantern culture has become widely popular. During the Kaiyuan era in the Tang Dynasty, people made lanterns in the shape of a dragon, with flashing lights to celebrate peace and prosperity. The custom of admiring lanterns during the Lantern Festival originated from the early years of the Han Dynasty. This lantern-lighting ceremony has evolved into the custom of carrying lanterns throughout the Lantern Festival. In ancient times, when school began in the first lunar month of the year, parents would prepare a lantern for their children, which would be lit by their teachers to symbolize a bright future during the year to come. Guru Wu Dunhou says umbrella lanterns (family name lanterns) signify abundance for the male family members because the sound of the word “lantern” in mandarin is similar to that of “male family members.” In the past, every family would hang family name lanterns under the eaves and in living rooms. According to the Taiwanese lantern guru Wu Dunhou, lanterns used at weddings (palace lanterns) are symbolic of joyous celebrations, while bamboo splint lanterns signify a funeral notice. The decorations are applied using different methods - calligraphy, paint, embroidery, and paper cut-outs.Īpart from being used to add light and atmosphere to the night, Chinese lanterns carry a symbolic meaning. The shade is made from either silk or semi-transparent paper. Commonly, the frame is fabricated from bamboo, wood, rattan, and steel wire. The materials used for Chinese lantern making also vary. During the Kaiyuan era in the Tang Dynasty, people made lanterns in the shape of a dragon. Sometimes, this lantern design also comes in a square shape. The most traditional design is an oval shape in the color red, decorated with golden tassels. The shapes of Chinese lanterns also vary. In addition, there are revolving scenic lanterns for people to play with. In addition to these clusters of lights looking beautiful in an exotic outdoor retreat, they also create an elegant and sophisticated focal point in traditional or contemporary rooms.There are many different decorations that appear on Chinese lanterns that can be divided into figurative motifs, landscape designs, flower and bird motifs, dragon and phoenix motifs, and fish and insect motifs. Pick out lamps that are all the same, or that feature similar styles to achieve a unique display. This kind of design not only works successfully for indoor applications but outdoor designs as well. When you’re working with Asian hanging lights, one of the most significant benefits to their design aspect is you can cluster them together at varying heights. However, working with an odd number offers a sense of balance in many spaces. Under some circumstances, it may be appropriate to utilize an even number of lamps. Therefore, if you have plans to utilize multiple Asian hanging lamps in your space, consider selecting an odd number rather than an even for a more visually appealing appearance. When styling and decorating with these hanging lamps, the recommendation is to use multiple lamps when working with a space that's larger than four feet.
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