China Ball

A paper lantern is a lantern made of thin, brightly colored paper. Paper lanterns come in various shapes and sizes, as well as various methods of construction. In their simplest form, they are simply a paper bag with a candle placed inside, although more complicated lanterns consist of a collapsible bamboo or metal frame of hoops covered with tough paper.

Origin

Paper lanterns are likely derived from earlier lanterns that used other types of translucent material like silk, horn, or animal skin. The material covering was used to prevent the flame in the lantern from being extinguished by wind, while still retaining its use as a light source. Papermaking technology originated from China from at least AD 105 during the Eastern Han Dynasty, but it is unknown exactly when paper became used for lanterns. Poems about paper lanterns start to appear in Chinese history at around the 6th century. Paper lanterns were common by the Tang Dynasty (AD 690–705), and it was during this period that the first annual lantern festival was established. From China, it was spread to neighboring cultures in East Asia, Southeast Asia, and South Asia.

Types

There are three general types of paper lanterns, they are:
*Hanging lantern - the basic type of paper lantern used for illumination. They are meant to be carried, hung, or mounted on stands.
*Sky lantern - a small hot air balloon made of paper, with an opening at the bottom where a small fire is suspended. Also known as "flying lanterns", "sky candles" or "fire balloons."
*Water lantern - paper lanterns that float on the surface of water.

By region

In addition to everyday usage as a light source in the past, paper lanterns are commonly associated with festivals in East Asian, Southeast Asian, and South Asian cultures.

East Asia

China & Taiwan

Paper lanterns are called ''Dēnglóng'' () in China.

File:ChiangKaiShek-MemorialHall-LanternFestival.jpg, Lantern festival at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall in Taiwan
File:London's Chinatown.jpg, alt=Lanterns above the street in London's Chinatown, Lanterns above the street in London's Chinatown

Japan

In Japan the traditional styles include ''bonbori'' and ''chōchin'' and there is a special style of lettering called '' chōchin moji'' used to write on them.

File:Ikuta jinja Chochin.JPG, A chochin lantern from Japan
File:Aki-no-nanakusa 01.JPG, Hexagonal bonbori lamps the Ise Grand Shrine

Southeast Asia

Philippines

In the Philippines, a traditional paper lantern is the parol, which is regarded an iconic symbol of Filipino Christmas. Traditionally constructed using bamboo and Japanese paper, modern parols have been made using other materials such as plastic, metal, and capiz shells. Its most-common form is a five-pointed star, although it can come in various shapes and sizes.

Dating back to the Spanish colonial period of the Philippines, parols are a traditional part of the Panunulúyan pageant in the nine-day Christmas Novena procession leading up to the Simbang Gabi (midnight mass). It was initially rectangular or oblong in shape but eventually came to be made in various shapes. It became standardized to a five-pointed star (symbolizing the Star of Bethlehem) during the American colonial period.

File:Simple capiz parol.jpg, A simple star-shaped parol made of capiz shells
File:Parols For Sale.png, Parols for sale
File:GLFjf1503 02.JPG, Programed electronic parols during the 2012 Giant Lantern Festival in San Fernando, Pampanga

Thailand

During the Yi Peng festival of Thailand, some people also decorate their houses, gardens, and temples with ''khom fai'' ( th, โคมไฟ), intricately shaped paper lanterns which take on different forms. ''Khom thue'' ( th, โคมถือ) are lanterns which are carried around hanging from a stick, ''khom khwaen'' ( th, โคมแขวน) are the hanging lanterns, and ''khom pariwat'' ( th, โคมปริวรรต), which are placed at temples and which revolve due to the heat of the candle inside. The most elaborate ''Yi Peng'' celebrations can be seen in Chiang Mai, the ancient capital of the former Lanna kingdom, where now both ''Loi Krathong'' and ''Yi Peng'' are celebrated at the same time resulting in lights floating on the waters, lights hanging from trees/buildings or standing on walls, and lights floating in the sky. The tradition of ''Yi Peng'' was also adopted by certain parts of Laos during the 16th century.

Thousands of sky lanterns called ''khom loi'' ( th, โคมลอย) are also released annually during the Yi Peng festival. However, this is a relatively new addition to the festival, only dating back to the first decade of the 21st century as part of tourism development.

File:Yi peng sky lantern festival San Sai Thailand.jpg, Sky lanterns in the sky on the night of Yi Peng in Thailand.

Vietnam

Two traditional festivals in Vietnam have prominent roles for lanterns:
# Vu Lan on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month. Buddhist temples traditionally would host the release of floating lanterns down river courses on small paper crafts with sticks of incense and written prayers.
#Tết Trung Thu, (Mid-Autumn festival) also known as the Children's Festival (Tết Nhi Đồng) on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. Children would parade in the streets with lit lanterns (''rước đèn'') with accompanying music and songs after sunset. The lanterns in this case are whimsical with a multitude of shapes and themes like fish, star... The lanterns are typically in transparent colored papers.

File:Den_ong_sao.JPG, Star-shaped lanterns of tết Trung Thu.

South Asia

Sri Lanka

Colorful paper lanterns called ''vesak kuudu'' are hung outside houses during the Buddhist festival of Vesak.

File:Vesak.JPG, Traditional Vesak lanterns during Vesak in Sri Lanka

Americas

United States

Placing candles or tea lights in a succession of small paper bags (known as luminarias or farolitos) is a common Christmas tradition in New Mexico. The tradition originated from the parol paper lanterns of the Philippines brought over to the Americas during the colonial period.

File:Luminarias.jpg, Luminarias during Christmas in Albuquerque, New Mexico

Europe

During the Festa della Rificolona held in Florence, Italy, children carry colourful paper lanterns through the streets of the city.

In Germany, Austria, Switzerland and other German-speaking and some Dutch-speaking parts of Europe there is a tradition of the Sankt-Martins-Umzug (Sint-Maarten in Dutch), during which children parade with paper lanterns that are traditionally handmade.

In photography

High-wattage paper lanterns are commonly used in lighting for motion picture productions. Commonly referred to as "China balls", they provide soft, edgeless light to a scene.

See also

* Color in Chinese culture
* Kamifūsen
* Lantern
* Sky lantern
* Types of Indian lamps
* Luminaria

References

External links

*

{{DEFAULTSORT:Paper Lantern
Chinese inventions
Chinese New Year
Light fixtures
Paper products