Chinese lanterns--let's experience the rich traditions of the Chinese New Year together!

Lanterns are an indispensable element of festivals in China and throughout the East. Chinese lanterns also represent the world's earliest portable lighting tools. Wherever lights dim, one can always envision lanterns scattered like stars, creating the warm atmosphere of a thousand households aglow.

Lanterns, also known as lantern decorations, are an ancient traditional Chinese craft.

Long, long ago, lanterns were not merely objects of beauty, but symbols of wisdom.

The emergence of China's first lantern marked the world's first portable lighting tool capable of illuminating the path ahead.

The earliest lanterns were documented in oracle bone inscriptions, where the character “东” (dōng) was used to describe their most primitive form—made by binding bamboo strips with cloth. This method persisted until the Han Dynasty, when the first paper lanterns appeared. By the Western Han period, the custom of hanging lanterns around the Lantern Festival had already taken root among the common people. In daily life, lanterns served primarily as illumination. Door lanterns (wind lanterns), used to denote official rank, business names, or status, held little symbolic meaning beyond their practical function.

With the advancement of society, people no longer need these ancient tools for illumination. Thus, lanterns have become purely symbolic—representing auspiciousness, Chinese culture, and beauty.

In overseas Chinese communities like Chinatowns, bright red Chinese lanterns hang year-round. Stepping into these neighborhoods feels like returning to one's homeland. In these foreign lands, red lanterns embody China itself, offering solace to those far from home. For those living in China, seeing lanterns doesn't evoke such longing, yet the soft glow they emit stirs our deep-rooted connection to China. Much like the intricately carved eaves under blue skies, the jade-like warmth of Ru ware tea bowls, or the boundless artistic expression of ink wash paintings, wherever red lanterns are hung—whether in the north or south—they become a gateway to the depths of China. This gentle, beautiful light guides us to see both the past and the future.

The Meaning Behind Lighting Lanterns During the Spring Festival

The origins of hanging lanterns during the Spring Festival date back to ancient times. Legend has it that after Jiang Ziya had assigned roles to all the gods, he himself was left without a position. On New Year's Eve, as all the gods took their places, Jiang Ziya had nowhere to go. Seeing his plight, the people lit a lamp atop a tall pole and let him crouch beneath it all night. Over time, this evolved into the custom of lighting lanterns during the Spring Festival. On the eve of the Lunar New Year, children carry lanterns, and households adorn their halls and rooms with lanterns, creating an atmosphere of harmony. Around the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, people hang lanterns symbolizing reunion to foster an auspicious and festive ambiance.

On New Year's Eve, every household decorates with lanterns and festive ornaments. From afar, the sea of lights creates a magnificent scene where “moonlight blends with daylight, and lantern glow mingles with starlight.”

Traditional Chinese Lanterns

Traditional Chinese lanterns feature exquisite designs and masterful craftsmanship, integrating painting, paper-cutting, paper-mache, and embroidery techniques.

Lanterns hold deep significance in Chinese culture. They remain widely used during traditional festivals and celebrations, serving as an important symbol of Chinese traditional culture. Especially during the Spring Festival, households hang red lanterns to symbolize joy and reunion throughout the year.