The lantern, also collectively referred to as "light decorations," represents an ancient traditional craft of the Han ethnic group. Evolving over millennia, lanterns display distinct artistic forms across various regions.

Around the Lunar New Year's Lantern Festival, typically before and after the 15th day of the first lunar month, people hang red lanterns symbolizing familial reunion to create a festive ambiance.

Lantern-making integrates painting, paper cutting, molding, and embroidery intricately woven into Chinese daily life. Lanterns have become a symbol of celebration for the Chinese.

Passed down through generations of artisans, they've developed diverse types and exceptional craftsmanship. Varieties include palace lanterns, gauze lanterns, hanging lanterns, etc., encompassing forms like figures, landscapes, flora and fauna, dragons, phoenixes, fish, insects, and entertainment lanterns designed for enjoyment.

The lantern's origins can be traced back over 1,800 years to the Western Han Dynasty. While records mention lantern use as early as the 8th century during the Tang Dynasty, lanterns in China might have emerged post the Qin and Han periods, possibly following the invention of paper in the Eastern Han Dynasty.

People hang red lanterns every Lunar New Year around the Lantern Festival, symbolizing unity to create a promising and festive atmosphere. Consequently, during significant festivals and auspicious occasions, grand red lanterns adorn the majestic Tiananmen Gate, streets, shops, and parks across the nation, even adorning large buildings and private residences' entrances.

At night, as lanterns illuminate, the radiant red glow exudes grandeur and festivity, embodying not just a craft but also carrying people's aspirations and good wishes across centuries, representing our traditional culture's treasure and fostering an atmosphere for emotional expression.

Lantern-viewing customs during the Lantern Festival originated in the early Han Dynasty. Legend also speaks of Emperor Tang Ming inaugurating grand lantern displays at the Shangyang Palace during the Lantern Festival to celebrate national prosperity and peace. This tradition, symbolizing "auspicious dragons and national prosperity," remains prevalent.

Chinese lanterns constitute a significant element in traditional culture, serving as illumination tools and decorative artworks, bearing deep historical and cultural significance. The following will detail the cultural significance of Chinese lanterns.

1. Illumination Tool: As a lighting tool, lanterns provided convenience in ancient times when electric lighting didn't exist, significantly impacting people's production and daily lives during nighttime.

2. Decorative Artwork: Lanterns hold rich aesthetic value as decorative artworks. Their shapes, colors, and patterns reflect ancient Chinese aesthetic concepts and artistic creativity. Simultaneously, lanterns represent one of China's traditional cultural symbols, embodying the Chinese nation's cultural heritage and spiritual pursuit.

3. Symbolic Meaning: Lanterns carry rich symbolic meanings in traditional Chinese culture, symbolizing reunion, festivity, and auspiciousness. During festivals like the Spring and Lantern festivals, people hang red lanterns, symbolizing joy and reunion. Moreover, lanterns represent hope and illumination, often seen as a symbol during hardships, suggesting hope and the arrival of brightness.

In the future, it's essential to cherish and pass on this traditional cultural element, allowing the radiance of Chinese lanterns to illuminate more lives.