Streets, both in big cities and small towns, are decorated with red lanterns during Chinese New Year, Mid-Autumn Festival, and the Lantern Festival. When Do Chinese People Use Lanterns?Īlthough there is no longer a practical need for Chinese lanterns nowadays for lighting, they are still made, used, and enjoyed by the Chinese people during festivals or important events. Green lanterns are becoming more and more popular nowadays. Green has meanings of health, prosperity, and harmony. Green lanterns are often seen during temple fairs or the Lantern Festival. So, white bamboo lanterns were often used at funerals in China. In Chinese culture, white is related to death or funerals. It is now said that yellow lanterns can bring good luck to young students in school. Yellow was the emperors’ color in ancient China, so they were not permitted for use by the general public. Yellow lanterns were mostly used in palaces in imperial times in China. Lanterns decorated with dragons could only be used in royal family premises in ancient China.ĭifferent Colors of Lanterns Yellow Lanterns They carried the meaning of wisdom, prosperity, great power, and strength. Dragons were seen as the symbol of emperors in ancient China.

The palace lantern was the most-used type.ĭragon-and-phoenix patterns were the main elements on palace lanterns, which represented royal status or upper class society. There are three main ancient types of lanterns: the palace lantern, gauze lantern, and the shadow-picture lantern. Popular illustrations on lanterns include landscapes, portraits of great people, dragon and phoenix designs, birds, and fish. Paper and silk are traditionally the major materials. The materials used for lantern frames include bamboo, wood, wheat straw, and metal. In ancient China, the art of making lanterns was a collection of crafts, including Chinese painting, paper-cutting, and needlework. Different Shapes of Lanterns Features of Chinese Lanterns

Chinese lantern lights