What is the significance of the Lantern Festival in Chinese culture? The Lantern Festival is an important event in Chinese culture and has held great significance in the lives of the Chinese for many centuries. Originating during the Han Dynasty, this Chinese festival marks the end of fifteen days of celebrating the Lunar New Year. Streets and buildings are lined with sturdy global red lanterns that can be as huge as an adult who is all curled up.

As the first lunar month is called Yuan and the Fifteenth marks the end, Xiao, the festival is known as Yuanxiao Jie in the Chinese language. Today, the Lantern Festival is a major event with vibrant fireworks displays in the major towns in China and Taiwan, lantern making and displays.

~ History.

The Lantern Festival has woven through the various dynastic periods in China, each dynasty having its special ways and beliefs about this festive period which started with the Han Dynasty. Until the Sui Dynasty in the Sixth Century, Emperor Yangdi took it as an opportunity to invite envoys from other countries to admire the brightly colored and lit lanterns and as well as the performances held, a cultural significance which emphasized the wealth and power of the Chinese.

During the Tang dynasty in the Seventhth Century, the festivities lasted three days. The Emperor lifted the curfew for the people to enjoy the festivities day and night. During the Tang period literature flourished. Many poems written on the joyous moods and happenings at the festival. During the Song Dynasty, the festivities stretched to five days. The activities also spread to many large cities in China. Lanterns were made using colorful glass and jade and decorated with figures from folklore. In the 15th century Emperor Chengzu dedicated ten days to the festival. An area in downtown set aside for lantern displays.

This tradition has continued up to today in Beijing, more as a cultural event than a religious one. Chengdu in Sichuan province holds a lantern fair in cultural Park, attracting hordes of visitors to admire the unique computerised designs and make of the lanterns. Few lanterns are lit with candles today. Instead, electrical lights create a brighter and more powerful imagery to the lanterns, many which have evolved into figures of all shapes and sizes including zodiac animals, modern cartoon characters such as Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, as well as elements of nature.

~ Origins.

From 206 BC to AD 25, Buddhism flourished during the Han Dynasty. The Chinese emperor supported the monks’ ritual of watching Buddha’s remains and lighting lanterns to worship Buddha by ordering lanterns to be lit in the imperial palaces and temples.

It was reported in another legend that another emperor, Mingdi, who reigned in the Eastern Han Dynasty, had a dream about a golden man. Before he could ask him who he was, the golden man had risen to the sky and disappeared in the West. Emperor Mingdi then sent a scholar to India to locate and bring back Buddhist scriptures. Upon the scholar’s return with the holy scriptures, the emperor had a temple built to house a statue of Buddha and the holy scriptures. As light dispels darkness, the temple would be lit with red lanterns during the auspicious period.

There was also the story of Yuan Xiao, a beautiful maid in the royal palace, who told the Emperor Wudi that the God of Fire visited and told her that he would burn down the city, upon the advice of scholar Dongfang Shuo who learnt of her plight that she was not allowed to return home to visit her family and so desired to die. He told her to propose that the city be lit brightly with red lanterns to look as if it was burning and hopefully the God of Fire would be fooled into thinking that the city was already burning and leave it alone. When everyone was busy with the light, she sneaked out to be with her family whom she missed a lot.

A different version had it that the Jade Emperor in heaven was furious that his goose was killed by a town that he decided to burn the town down. But a kind-hearted fairy heard about his intention and warned the town folks about their impending fate as well as her idea to have the town lit with red lanterns. The Jade Emperor left the town alone when he saw from heaven that it was already on fire.

Another legend claims that a bright full moon should be celebrated and hence brightly lit lanterns are hung for people to enjoy during the Fifteenth as full moons usually occur mid month of the Lunar calendar. Yuanxiao, a glutinous rice ball, is eaten.

Yet another legend has it that to appease Taiyi, the God of Heaven since ancient times, so that he would not order his sixteen dragons to destroy the world, the emperors since Qinshihuang ordered splendid ceremonies and celebrations that lasted through the night in honor of Taiyi. It was hoped that in doing so, Taiyi would bless and not destroy the world.

~ Festivities.

Today Chinese all over the world have slightly different beliefs attached to the Lantern Festival and how to celebrate it. A common thread through all the festivities are red lanterns, fireworks displays and the eating of glutinous rice balls called Yuanxiao.

While the lantern displays are a main attraction at the Mid-Autumn Festival or Mooncake Festival of many South-Asian countries such as Singapore and Malaysia, the Mid-Autumn Festival is not to be confused with the Lantern Festival held some seven months apart. In a like manner as the Mid-Autumn Festival, lanterns and fireworks displays are the core attraction.

Performances are another part of the attractions during the Lantern Festivals. They include stilt walkers, dances, acrobatic stunts and lantern making competitions right in front of you.

The main food item eaten at the Lantern Festival is the Yuanxiao, so named after the day of the festival. These glutinous rice balls look similar to those Tang yuan eaten during the Winter solstice but are made with different soups, colors and fillings.

The main significance of the Lantern Festival in Chinese culture today is mainly that of a festive celebration although the more religious Buddhists still revere and remember the Lord Buddha during Yuanxiao. Nevertheless, the Lantern Festival is still symbolic of the creative abilities and adaptabilities of the Chinese all over the world to be able to hold on to cultural festivities and practices through centuries of time and be one at heart during such festive seasons.

Just as light and the color red still hold great significance in the lives of the Chinese, red lanterns and their modified versions still light up and brighten the lives of Chinese in every corner of the world. Red lanterns continue to be very much a huge part of the joyous occasions in Chinese culture - their symbolism of joy, hope and a bright future will never die out.