A blog of Chinese art, culture and design

A red lantern calls the spring clouds from my sleep…
Wang Chien, Palace Poems

On the 15th day of the first lunar month, people across China commemorate the Lantern Festival-the last day of Chinese New Year celebrations and the first full moon of the year. Red lanterns are strung across plazas, hung outside homes, and carried through streets. This ancient Spring Festival encompasses many traditions: the reunion of families, the veneration of spirits, and the birthday of Tianguan-the Taoist god of prosperity.

Although the Lantern Festival dates back thousands of years, it was not until the early Qing Dynasty (1663-1796) that Emperor Qianlong popularized the custom of “raising the red lantern.” Decorated with the color of wealth and good fortune, red lanterns are said to beckon luck from the hearth gods who protect the home.

An ancient symbol, the lantern represents many things. In Buddhism, lanterns of all kinds-particularly those with a lotus shape or pattern-symbolize illumination and knowledge. Poems and riddles are often inscribed on lanterns. In traditional folklore, lanterns are associated with fertility. People in Yunnan Province traditionally place “Children and Grandchildren Lanterns” under the bed to encourage conception.

Lanterns come in diverse shapes and sizes, from paper spheres to intricate metal and wood frames lined with fabric. The lantern’s soft light-evoking the ethereal glow of a full moon-has inspired artists, designers, and architects from John Singer Sargeant to Rem Koolhaus. In homes, lanterns make striking pendant lights, table lamps, centerpieces, and garden decorations. They can be wired with a bulb or used as traditional votives, infusing a home with the warm glow of good luck.

This entry was posted on Monday, April 5th, 2010 at 9:45 PM and is filed under In The Garden. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.