The origin of the dragon lantern

The origin of the Yinglong Lantern is as follows:

According to legend, in ancient times, people called the dragon, phoenix, unicorn, and turtle the four spirits, which are the embodiment of auspiciousness and the sustenance of good wishes. Legend has it that the Dragon King stirs up clouds and brings rain, which brings benefits to the world. As a god, the dragon has been a national symbol worshiped by the Chinese people since ancient times. It is a product of artistic creation. It combines a lion's head, a snake's body, a fish's tail, and a chicken's claws. It is brave, flexible, friendly, and noble. It is a comprehensive It represents the people's ideals, wishes, wisdom and strength, and symbolizes good luck and happiness.

As early as the Han Dynasty, dragon lantern dance activities were very common. Folks used dragon dance to pray for its blessing, hoping for good weather and good harvests. By the Tang and Song dynasties, dragon dance had become very popular among the people, and the form and performance skills of dragon lantern dance had been perfected. According to the record in "Mengliang Lu" written by Wu Zimu in the Song Dynasty: "Cover the grass with a green curtain, and place thousands of lanterns and candles densely, looking at them winding like two dragons." This article fully illustrates that by the Song Dynasty, dragon lanterns were already in use. Activities in the north and south of the Yangtze River. It is said that one year, there was a severe drought in Jinyang. The Jade Emperor asked the Golden Horned Dragon King to sow rain in the Jinyang area. The Golden Horned Dragon King sown rain to the south, drowning many people. After the Jade Emperor learned of the news, he punished the Golden Horned Dragon King and denounced him. In order to atone for his sins, the Old Dragon King visited the common people in the mortal world every New Year, promising that there would be happy rains in the coming year, so that the land of Jinyang would have good weather, good harvests, and live a beautiful and happy life.