6th century and afterwards Lantern Festival
lanterns in qinhuai lantern fair
until sui dynasty in sixth century, emperor yangdi invited envoys other countries china see colorful lighted lanterns , enjoy gala performances.
by beginning of tang dynasty in seventh century, lantern displays last 3 days. emperor lifted curfew, allowing people enjoy festive lanterns day , night. not difficult find chinese poems describe happy scene.
in song dynasty, festival celebrated 5 days , activities began spread many of big cities in china. colorful glass , jade used make lanterns, figures folk tales painted on lanterns.
however, largest lantern festival celebration took place in part of 15th century. festivities continued ten days. emperor chengzu had downtown area set aside center displaying lanterns. today, there place in beijing called dengshikou. in chinese, deng means lantern , shi market. area became market lanterns sold during day. in evening, local people go there see beautiful lighted lanterns on display.
today, displaying of lanterns still major event on fifteenth day of first lunar month throughout china. chengdu in southwest china s sichuan province, example, holds lantern fair each year in culture park. during lantern festival, park virtual ocean of lanterns. many new designs attract large numbers of visitors. eye-catching lantern dragon pole. lantern in shape of golden dragon, spiraling 38-meter-high pole, spewing fireworks mouth. cities such hangzhou , shanghai have adopted electric , neon lanterns, can seen beside traditional paper or wooden counterparts. popular activity @ festival guessing lantern riddles (which became part of festival during tang dynasty). these contain messages of fortune, family reunion, abundant harvest, prosperity , love. pumpkin carved jack-o -lantern halloween in western world, asian parents sometime teach children carve empty inner tubing of oriental radish /mooli/ daikon cai-tou-lantern (simplified chinese: 营菜头灯; traditional chinese: 營菜頭燈; pinyin: yíng cai tóu dēng) festival.
this painting, imperial court painter in 1485, depicts chenghua emperor enjoying festivities families in forbidden city during traditional chinese lantern festival. includes acrobatic performances, operas, magic shows , setting off firecrackers.
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