The Magnificent Celebration Of The Lantern Festival
Friday, 15 January 2010 08:12 | 
Written by John Chan |
Let us explore the evolution of the lantern festival that is seen during celebrations in the Chinese New Year.
Let us explore the origins of the lantern festival that is seen during celebrations in the Chinese New Year.
Yuan Xiao is the Chinese lantern festival that is celebrated during the time of the New Year. Lantern is a significant symbol associated with the Chinese New Year. Yuan word is derived from the year's first month and word Xiao comes from the word night as referred to, by the Chinese people.
Fifteen days after entering the New Year, when the first full moon night is observed, the lantern festival is held that night. It is to celebrate the joyful atmosphere when the first full moon of the New Year is seen shining brightly. Chinese people get together at the festival site and together they hold their lanterns up trying to constitute a beautifully lit up surrounding.
Chinese lanterns are very intricately designed. These items are not simple lighting objects but often have engaging puzzles made on them that might completely mesmerize you. Also rice balls are shared and eaten during this lantern festival with families and friends to represent the merry-making festival.
The source of the lantern tradition
As is the case with many other traditional practices of China you will find a number of myths concerning the lantern New Year tradition. The most popular legend is related with the worship of a God known as Taiyi who was supposedly the ruler over the heavens in ancient times.
Being the god of heaven it was believed that he controlled the entire luck of the human world. The power to impose punishment through natural disasters or medical epidemics was attributed to this god. The emperor who first started the tradition of holding a ceremony to please Taiyi was Qinshihuang. There ceremonies were held in order to gain the good pleasure of Taiyi and avoid the risk of natural disasters.
As time went, the Han dynasty patronized the festival to please lord Taiyi to very great extent and with time the ceremony became popular. It was during the reign of the ruler Wudi that this event became the most important in China and revelry went on for the entire night.
The story behind the lantern ceremony however had a different explanation too that said the Taoists influenced these celebrations. The fortune of the Chinese people was in the hands of the Taoist lord Tianguan, apparently, and he seemed to have taste for Chinese entertainment. Hence, the Chinese took to pleasing him by, celebrating on the streets and performing various performances to keep him happy.
The origin of the day of lighting lanterns was apparently discovered by King Mingdi, as a different story says. This story states that he was under Buddhist influence and one dream had led to the extraordinary choice of the fifteenth day of the New Year as the day to commemorate the event of lighting lanterns.
Irrespective of which of the legends are true the fact remains that the lantern festival is a prominent part of the Chinese New Year celebrations. Especially interesting are the decorative lanterns with different traditional Chinese motifs.
Let us explore the origins of the lantern festival that is seen during celebrations in the Chinese New Year.
Yuan Xiao is the Chinese lantern festival that is celebrated during the time of the New Year. Lantern is a significant symbol associated with the Chinese New Year. Yuan word is derived from the year's first month and word Xiao comes from the word night as referred to, by the Chinese people.
Fifteen days after entering the New Year, when the first full moon night is observed, the lantern festival is held that night. It is to celebrate the joyful atmosphere when the first full moon of the New Year is seen shining brightly. Chinese people get together at the festival site and together they hold their lanterns up trying to constitute a beautifully lit up surrounding.
Chinese lanterns are very intricately designed. These items are not simple lighting objects but often have engaging puzzles made on them that might completely mesmerize you. Also rice balls are shared and eaten during this lantern festival with families and friends to represent the merry-making festival.
The source of the lantern tradition
As is the case with many other traditional practices of China you will find a number of myths concerning the lantern New Year tradition. The most popular legend is related with the worship of a God known as Taiyi who was supposedly the ruler over the heavens in ancient times.
Being the god of heaven it was believed that he controlled the entire luck of the human world. The power to impose punishment through natural disasters or medical epidemics was attributed to this god. The emperor who first started the tradition of holding a ceremony to please Taiyi was Qinshihuang. There ceremonies were held in order to gain the good pleasure of Taiyi and avoid the risk of natural disasters.
As time went, the Han dynasty patronized the festival to please lord Taiyi to very great extent and with time the ceremony became popular. It was during the reign of the ruler Wudi that this event became the most important in China and revelry went on for the entire night.
The story behind the lantern ceremony however had a different explanation too that said the Taoists influenced these celebrations. The fortune of the Chinese people was in the hands of the Taoist lord Tianguan, apparently, and he seemed to have taste for Chinese entertainment. Hence, the Chinese took to pleasing him by, celebrating on the streets and performing various performances to keep him happy.
The origin of the day of lighting lanterns was apparently discovered by King Mingdi, as a different story says. This story states that he was under Buddhist influence and one dream had led to the extraordinary choice of the fifteenth day of the New Year as the day to commemorate the event of lighting lanterns.
Irrespective of which of the legends are true the fact remains that the lantern festival is a prominent part of the Chinese New Year celebrations. Especially interesting are the decorative lanterns with different traditional Chinese motifs.
About the Author:
Chinese new year lanterns are fun and easy to make. If you want to read more about other Chinese new year traditions follow the hyperlinks.
