Paper lantern

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,Hogben, Lancelot. "Printing, Paper and Playing Cards". Bennett, Paul A. (ed.) Books and Printing: A Treasury for Typophiles. New York: The World Publishing Company, 1951. pp. 15–31. p. 17. & Mann, George. Print: A Manual for Librarians and Students Describing in Detail the History, Methods, and Applications of Printing and Paper Making. London: Grafton & Co., 1952. p. 77 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.{{cite book|first1=Tsuen-Hsuin|last1=Tsien|editor1-first=Joseph|editor1-last=Needham|title =Science and Civilisation in China|chapter =Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Part 1: Paper and Printing|publisher =Cambridge University Press|volume = 5|year =1985|page=128|isbn =0521086906}} 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.

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.

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.

{{Main|Palace lantern}}

Paper lanterns are called Dēnglóng ({{zh|s=灯笼 |t=燈籠 |p=}}) 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

{{Main|Traditional lighting equipment of 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:Japanese Lantern Makers.jpg|Japanese Lantern Makers, photo by T. Enami

File:Ikuta jinja Chochin.JPG|A chochin lantern from Japan

File:Aki-no-nanakusa 01.JPG|Hexagonal bonbori lamps the Ise Grand Shrine

{{Main|Parol}}

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.{{Cite book |last=J. |first=John |publication-date=2005 |title=A Christmas Compendium |publisher=Continuum International Publishing Group |page=67 |isbn=0-8264-8749-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yBP8a2jJ9A4C&q=Philippine+christmas+lanterns&pg=PA67 |access-date=December 20, 2007 |year=2005}}{{Cite book |last=Magocsi |first=Paul R. |publication-date=1999 |title=Encyclopedia of Canada's Peoples |publisher=University of Toronto Press |page=510 |isbn=0-8020-2938-8 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dbUuX0mnvQMC&q=Philippine+christmas+lanterns&pg=PA510 |access-date=December 20, 2007 |year=2006}}{{cite news |title=Christmas decors, Filipino-style |url=http://www.gmanews.tv/story/72224/Christmas-decors-Filipino-style |publisher=GMA news.TV |date=December 10, 2007 |access-date=December 20, 2007 |language=tl}}

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.{{cite news |last1=Tan |first1=Nigel |title=PH X'mas symbols, practices trace roots to Spanish era |url=https://r3.rappler.com/newsbreak/iq/46589-ph-christmas-symbols-spanish-roots |access-date=1 December 2020 |work=Rappler |date=17 December 2016}}

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

{{Main|Loi Krathong}}

During the Yi Peng festival of Thailand, some people also decorate their houses, gardens, and temples with khom fai ({{langx|th|โคมไฟ}}), intricately shaped paper lanterns which take on different forms. Khom thue ({{langx|th|โคมถือ}}) are lanterns which are carried around hanging from a stick, khom khwaen ({{langx|th|โคมแขวน}}) are the hanging lanterns, and khom pariwat ({{langx|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,{{cite web|url=http://www.chiangmai-chiangrai.com/loy_krathong-lantern_festival_yee_peng.html|title=Lantern Festival of the Yee Peng Month|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130228183415/http://www.chiangmai-chiangrai.com/loy_krathong-lantern_festival_yee_peng.html|archive-date=2013-02-28}} 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 ({{langx|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.{{cite news |title=No urban place for Loy Krathong |url=https://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/1577774/no-urban-place-for-loy-krathong |access-date=18 November 2018 |work=Bangkok Post |date=18 November 2018 |department=Opinion}}

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

Two traditional festivals in Vietnam have prominent roles for lanterns:

1. Vu Lan on the 15th day of the seventh lunar month. Buddhist temples traditionally would host the release of floating water lanterns down river courses on small paper crafts with sticks of incense and written prayers.

File:Wt-4368 PS.jpg|An old woman releases water lanterns in Hội An

File:OMD40445 (27821684578).jpg|Buddhists and monks prepare to water lanterns on the occasion of Vu Lan

1. 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.

File:Star-shaped lanterns.jpg|Star-shaped lanterns

File:The street of colourful lanterns - Léon Busy (1874-1951).jpg|The street of colourful lanterns - Léon Busy (1874-1951)

In addition to the above two festivals, paper lanterns are also hung by Vietnamese people on the occasion of the Tết Nguyên Đán to look forward to a good new year.

File:Lantern, Viet - Vietnam Museum of Ethnology - Hanoi, Vietnam - DSC02557.JPG|Paper lantern, Vietnam Museum of Ethnology - Hanoi

File:Dragon lantern in Bát Tràng (2018).jpg|Paper lanterns are hung during the Tết Nguyên Đán in Bát Tràng village

File:Hanoi Old Quarter (25397128097).jpg|Paper lanterns in Hanoi's Old Quarter

File:DGJ 1692 - Dai Trung Gate (3504183018).jpg|Đại Trung Gate, Văn Miếu

Paper lanterns are also used to attract visitors, for example, Hoian city, a famous tourist destination of Vietnam, often hangs paper lanterns throughout the year to attract tourists.

File:Lanterns in Hoi An, Vietnam (25708206924).jpg

File:Lanterns in Hoi An 6.jpg

File:Hoi An (25653775177).jpg

File:Wt-4418EX4.5.jpg|Paper Lanterns in the streets of Hội An

File:Thương xá Tax - 14780682928.jpg|Paper Lanterns in Thương xá Tax

Paper lanterns are used especially in Chinatown areas in countries having notable Chinese ethnicity heritage.

File:Paper lanterns and mural in Kuala Lumpur.jpg|Lanterns in Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur

File:Paper lanterns in Kuala Lumpur.jpg|Lanterns in Chinatown, Kuala Lumpur

File:Paper lanterns in Singapore.jpg|Lanterns at Buddha Tooth Relic Temple in Chinatown, Singapore

File:Chinese lanterns in the side of Buddha Tooth Relic temple.jpg|Lanterns at Buddha Tooth Relic temple

File:Chinese lanterns yellow model.jpg|Lanterns in Singapore during Chinese New Year

In India, star shaped paper lanterns hold cultural and religious significance and are widely used during festivals, particularly Diwali—the Hindu Festival of Lights. These lanterns, known locally as kandil or akash kandil in Maharashtra, are traditionally hung outside homes to symbolise the triumph of light over darkness.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-05 |title=Festivals of Light |url=https://paperstarlights.com/blogs/home/festivals-of-light |access-date=2025-04-09 |website=Paper Starlights |language=en}} They are often handmade and vary in design, with intricate cutwork patterns, vibrant colours, and symmetrical shapes, making them an integral part of the festival's visual celebration of light and joy.

File:Paper Star Lantern in India.jpg

{{Main|Vesak}}

Colorful paper lanterns called Vesak Kuudu are hung outside houses during the Buddhist festival of Vesak.{{cite web |title=Vesak |url=https://us.lakpura.com/pages/vesak |website=Lakpura |access-date=1 December 2020}}

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

File:Vesak Festive Adornments, Jaffna.jpg|Floating lanterns float along a lake during Vesak in Sri Lanka

{{Main|Luminaria}}

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.{{cite book |last1=Castro |first1=Rafaela |title=Chicano Folklore: A Guide to the Folktales, Traditions, Rituals and Religious Practices of Mexican Americans |date=2001 |publisher=OUP USA |isbn=9780195146394 |page=94 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WdzY7YjhRroC&pg=PA94}}{{cite news |last1=Greene |first1=Bizia |title=Holiday charm of farolitos started in the Philippines |url=https://www.santafenewmexican.com/life/family/holiday-charm-of-farolitos-started-in-the-philippines/article_de9781be-6a14-52e3-bc21-cebe48dad6c0.html |access-date=1 December 2020 |work=Santa Fe New Mexican |date=27 December 2017}}{{cite news |title=Our View: Why luminarias should be your new (old) Christmas tradition |url=https://www.azcentral.com/story/opinion/editorial/2017/12/21/luminaria-new-old-christmas-tradition/962185001/ |access-date=1 December 2020 |date=21 December 2017}}{{cite book|title=Christmas in old Santa Fe|first=Pedro|last=Ribera Ortega|edition=2|publisher=Sunstone Press|year=1973|isbn=0-913270253|pages=[https://archive.org/details/christmasinoldsa0000ribe/page/14 14]–23|url=https://archive.org/details/christmasinoldsa0000ribe|url-access=registration}}

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

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.{{cite book|title=New Cinematographers|author=Ballinger, Alexander|page=186|publisher=Laurence King Publishing|year=2004|isbn=1-85669-334-1}}

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

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Category:Chinese inventions

Category:Chinese New Year

Category:Light fixtures

Category:Paper products