The Lantern Festival is a traditional Chinese festival commemorated every 15th day of the first month in the lunisolar Chinese calendar. It usually falls in February, and it signifies the last day of the traditional Chinese New Year celebrations. Even as early as the Western Han Dynasty, it was already celebrated as a festivity with great importance. During the Lantern Festival in ancient times, the lanterns were moderately simple. It was just the emperor and great noblemen who had large elegant lanterns. In modern times, lanterns have become enhanced with several complex designs. Some lanterns are now frequently made in the shape of animals.

HISTORY OF LANTERN FESTIVAL

The origin of the Lantern Festival has brought about various beliefs and conceptions. However, its roots go way back to over 2,000 years ago and are famously associated with the dynasty of Emperor Ming at the time when Buddhism was evolving in China. Emperor Ming was a supporter of Buddhism, and when he noted how Buddhist monks would often light lanterns in temples on the 15th day of the first lunar month. He decreed that all households, temples, and the imperial palace light lanterns on that evening. So from there, lighting lanterns developed into a folk custom.

But there’s another origin, most likely a legend — the observation of the declining darkness of winter and how the community can move about at night with human-made light. During the Han dynasty, the lantern festival was associated with Ti Yin, the deity of the North Star. Some other legend associates the Lantern Festival with Taoism. Tianguan, being the Taoist deity responsible for good fortune, has his birthday on the 15th day of the first lunar month. It is believed that Tianguan likes all types of entertainment, so his followers organize various activities during which they pray and plead for good fortune.

Yet another widespread legend about the origins of the Lantern Festival talks about an elegant crane that flew down to earth from the heavens. After it landed on earth, it was hunted down and slaughtered. This annoyed the Jade Emperor in heaven, and in his anger, he formed a storm of fire to engulf the entire village. Emperor Wu of the Han dynasty gave special allure to this event. In 104 B.C., he declared it as one of the most significant celebrations and decreed that the ceremony be held throughout the night. 

Complete News Source : National Today