Let’s talk about the origin and relevance of “river lanterns”!

Introduction to the custom of placing river lanterns

Putting river lanterns (also often written as "letting out lotus lanterns") is a traditional custom of the Chinese nation. It is used to commemorate the deceased relatives and pay tribute to the deceased. Blessings to the living. It is popular in Han, Mongolian, Daur, Yi, Bai, Naxi, Miao, Dong, Buyi, Zhuang, and Tujia areas. River lanterns are often placed by the water on the evenings of March 3, Qiqiao Festival, and Mid-Autumn Festival.

Taoism and Buddhism also release river lanterns when they hold religious festivals on the fifteenth day of the seventh month of the lunar calendar (also known as July Half, Ghost Festival, Ghost Festival, and Bon Festival). Most people mistakenly Putting out river lanterns is a religious activity.

In fact, the folk custom of releasing river lanterns originated very early.

Primitive societies were limited in their understanding of nature. For a long time, people believed that fire was the source of all things. It became a totem for worship, a symbol of auspiciousness and warmth, and a god who defeated cold and hunger. During the fishing and hunting era, people would go out to the sea and lakes by boat to avoid the raging storms. When crossing dangerous reefs and dangerous shoals or when the waves were high, they would weave bamboo boards into small boats, place offerings, light candles, use colored paper as sails and lanterns, and let them drift in the water. Pray to the sea god for peace. This custom is still popular among fishermen in Taiwan, Fujian and Guangdong, and is called colorful boat lanterns. In the slave society of the Zhou Dynasty in the 11th century BC, the Duke of Zhou assisted King Wu in establishing the city of Luoyi. He held a banquet to celebrate in Qushui. "The flowing water overflowed with wine," and "the wine glasses flowed with the waves." The night continued day and night, and lamps were lit on the holders of the wine glasses. , the lantern wine evolved from the flowing wine cup to the wave. The Book of Songs of the Spring and Autumn Period records the folk custom of holding candles on the two rivers of Qin and Wei to revive souls, and holding orchids to ward off evil. The slave society was a society that invaded neighboring countries and had constant wars. When ships were used to attack cities and destroy strongholds with fire, it was a common practice to bury the fallen soldiers in water and put flowers and lanterns on the ships and rafts. On the 15th day of August in the Zhou Dynasty, there was an activity of singing and dancing around the bonfire to welcome the cold, "raising the lantern and toad's soul". In the Jin Dynasty, on the night when the moon is the fullest and brightest every year, people "play with the moon to their heart's content, spend the night with candles" and "play with the moon on boats". These activities are earlier than Taoism that appeared in the Han Dynasty and Buddhism that was introduced to our country during the Han and Jin Dynasties.

Folks pay homage to their loved ones, often on the first and fifteenth day of each month and on the anniversary of death. After the Han and Jin Dynasties, the influence of religion expanded day by day. Emperor Wu of the Liang Dynasty in the Northern and Southern Dynasties worshiped Buddhism and advocated holding water and land Dharma gatherings. Monks put river lanterns in the life-release pond. In 759, Emperor Suzong of the Tang Dynasty ordered the establishment of 81 free-life pools in the world. Emperor Zhenzong of the Northern Song Dynasty designated the Buddha's birthday as Release Day in 1016, and August 15th as the Mid-Autumn Festival. At that time, lanterns were held to play with the moon, river music and songs were played, and "monks, nuns, Taoists, and laypeople raised basins to offer to the Buddha." Taoism was promoted in the Song Dynasty, and it was stipulated that river lanterns should be lit in various places during the Ghost Festival to help lonely souls, set off flames, and perform mulian operas. Many poets left poems about setting off lanterns in the West Lake of Hangzhou in joy. After that, the river lantern lighting was held in the middle of July and became popular all over the country with the spread of Taoism and Buddhism. On this day, people prepare wine and food at home, burn paper money to worship their ancestors, and go to temples and Taoist temples to participate in ritual or Taoist activities such as setting off river lanterns.

In some areas, the display of river lanterns is not limited to July and a half. River lanterns are also displayed on the Three Song Festival, Guozhuang Festival, Shangsi Festival and March Festival in March. Girls are particularly fond of this custom. They often make small homemade lanterns with their wishes for a better life in the future floating down the river on festival nights.

The seventh day of the seventh lunar month is the folk Magpie Bridge Festival, also known as Valentine's Day and Girls' Day. People are afraid that the Cowherd cannot see the Magpie Bridge in the dark, so they put lanterns on the human river to help the Cowherd find the way quickly. Bu meets Weaver Girl. This was recorded in many literati's poems and articles after the Song Dynasty.

In Jiangnan, people who have recovered from illness and their relatives make river lanterns and put them out to send away the disaster of the disease. The time is naturally not limited to July and a half. "The paper boats are burning with candles shining in the sky" is a vivid description of this custom. Ships in rivers, lakes and sea take the initiative to give way to the drifting lightships as a sign of good luck.

In our neighboring countries, Japan and some Southeast Asian countries, boys and girls also have the custom of placing lanterns along the river to pray for blessings.

In modern times, people in Fujian took advantage of the favorable tides to make river lanterns out of paper, cloth, silk, plastic, and metal, and floated them to Kinmen and Matsu. The walls of the lanterns had words such as family reunion, three links across the Taiwan Strait, early reunification, and revitalization. Chinese greetings were given, and the lantern boats were also equipped with letters of condolences and gifts, giving the river lanterns a new era flavor.

Chengdu was one of the five major cities in the country during the Han Dynasty. In the Tang Dynasty, there was a saying that one benefited the other, and the popularity of tourist attractions was the highest in the southwest, making it famous throughout the world. In the poem of Baishou Gong by Mrs. Huarui by Mengchang of the Later Shu Dynasty, there is a record that "the Hungry Ghost Festival in Fayun Temple is also the birthday of the official family", which shows that the Hungry Ghost Festival was popular early. "The river lanterns are bright, the river lanterns are bright, the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl are full of joy", "The river lanterns are blown three thousand miles away, and my years are as sweet as honey", "Let the river lanterns shine today, throw them away tomorrow" and other folk songs and bamboo poems, which prove the long history of the custom. .

How to make river lanterns

The following are all the ways to make river lanterns. Some are easy and some are more complicated. You can choose to make them according to your own preferences!

Recommendation: Use environmentally friendly, translucent and waterproof materials, such as waxed paper! Over-plasticized paper is not approved.

The process and raw materials for making river lanterns are very simple. Used colored paper, cigarette boxes, and paper cups can be used. The method is to cut the colored paper into a square, then fold the four corners toward the center, and then open the four corners. After a few rounds, a beautiful little "awning boat" is made. The method of making a paper cup is simpler. Just stick paper flaps around it, and it will be a simple "river lantern".