Sky lanterns. All about Chinese sky lanterns Chinese lanterns history of appearance

One of the essential attributes Chinese New Year are paper lanterns. They can be seen in Asian countries on the streets, in homes and offices. Paper lanterns are not a common decoration. Like almost any Asian paraphernalia, they have a symbolic meaning.

Red lanterns symbolize wealth, prosperity and good luck. It is believed that the place where the Chinese lantern hangs brings abundance and success. This is why you see red paper lanterns in Chinese restaurants so often.

Paper lanterns of different colors are a popular decoration in the East.

Although red is the most popular color, there are other colors as well. White lanterns attract happiness and success, blue lanterns bring good luck in career and work, green lanterns promote abundance and prosperity in the new year. During the celebration of the Chinese New Year, thousands of colored paper lanterns with burning candles are launched into the sky.

During Chinese New Year celebrations, thousands of burning paper lanterns are launched into the sky.

While Chinese lanterns are associated with Chinese New Year celebrations, their use is much wider.

As feng shui symbols, they can be an excellent tool for transforming the interior and exterior spaces of the house, attracting good luck to it.

Paper lanterns can be powerful feng shui charms if you know how to use them correctly.

Paper lanterns for home

Paper refers to yang energy. Chinese lanterns are a great decoration for your home. Feng shui experts claim that paper lanterns can improve feng shui. They attract positive energy, activating all areas inside the home.

They can be hung in the bedroom, in the kitchen, in the office, at the entrance and on the balcony. Inexpensive and beautiful paper lanterns add unique oriental accents to interior design. They can be used as a lampshade for a lamp, or simply hung as a decoration.

An additional symbolic meaning is added by a hieroglyph on a paper lantern.

For single people looking for a soul mate, or those who want to return a partner, it is recommended to place a couple of small red lanterns in the love sector (southwest of Bagua). symbolizes passion and romance, and small red lanterns strengthen relationships, revive extinguished feelings, and strengthen them. A pair of red lanterns can also be hung in the sector of glory (south).

Orange paper lanterns are a great party decoration.

Green lanterns can be placed in the wealth sector (southeast), blue lanterns in the career sector (north), and white lanterns in the career and health sector (center and east). Small multi-colored lanterns can be decorated at the beginning of the Chinese New Year celebration to bring good luck to the house.

Lantern color

Color symbolism plays a big role. Red is associated with happiness, luck, prosperity and abundance. In Feng Shui practice, red lanterns are believed to bring family happiness. Red lanterns at the main entrance will bring marital happiness to the couple and protect them from evil.

A good marital ritual is to light two red lanterns at the same time. If the spouses fulfill it, then this will strengthen their union and make it more joyful.

Paper lantern in the office.

Yin and yang are important concepts in the theory and practice of feng shui, as everything in this world is constantly changing and, at the same time, tends to balance. Purple lanterns are associated with yin energy, which brings peace, spiritual awareness, mental and physical healing into the home.

Deep, rich and dark shades of magenta bring fortune, fortune and fame. In areas where you meditate and reflect on the eternal, it is good to use flashlights of light shades of purple.

Green symbolizes growth, harmony, health, femininity, yin energy and well-being. A green flashlight, located next to the desktop, helps to concentrate. Green lanterns promote spiritual growth and humility.

Unlike European culture, where blue is the color of boys, in Asia this color is full of feminine yin energy and symbolizes girls. Peace, tranquility, the element of water - these are its other characteristics. Since the color blue promotes relaxation, a blue flashlight can be placed in recreational or bathing areas.

Paper lanterns and holidays

Chinese New Year is not the only holiday where paper lanterns can be used. Red lanterns will be a wonderful decoration for a wedding or a romantic dinner. Pink lanterns will look great at any bachelorette party. Orange colored lanterns set the tone for communication and add energy and brightness to any party.

Chinese lanterns become an indispensable attribute of every holiday, but not everyone knows that they appeared eighteen centuries ago and were used for military purposes. Their inventor was the commander Kong Ming, launching lanterns into the sky, which were visible for many kilometers, he transmitted messages to military units.

The invention was not forgotten even in peacetime. Sky lanterns began to be used on holidays. Thus, the Chinese wished their loved ones happiness, longevity and health. They were launched at weddings and birthdays, with the help of lanterns they tried to propitiate the gods, and also gave thanks for a good harvest or an excellent catch. Beautiful sky lanterns spread very quickly throughout Asia, and in each country some special traditions and customs were associated with them.

In Thailand, for example, flying lanterns are launched on almost all holidays, but most of the lights soaring in the sky can be seen on the days when the Banana Boat Festival is celebrated. Thais make a wish when they release a lantern into the sky and follow it until the lantern is out of sight.

Sky lanterns were brought to India by Buddhist monks, and therefore, the tradition has been preserved to present them as a gift to the Temple during religious holidays. Fire symbolizes spiritual purification, and everyone who brought a lantern as a gift should become a little better and wiser.

And Indian girls, launching flying lanterns into the sky, think for themselves a successful marriage, wealth and prosperity in their future family life.

Sky lanterns came to Russia not too long ago, but the custom of launching lights into the sky is becoming more and more popular. Flashlights are used at children's parties, during weddings, birthdays, New Year's Eve. Lanterns are made in a variety of shapes and colors, and you can choose the right lantern for any important event.

Both adults and children like to launch flying lanterns. There is something joyful and sad, philosophical and naive in this action. The ritual combines faith in the unknown and hope for the future. Lanterns flying in the sky seem to take our desires with them to where they are destined to come true.

Those who at least once in their lives have released a flying lantern into the sky and watched the light gradually disappear in the sky, they understand perfectly why this beautiful custom has become so popular all over the world, and why, despite the invention of the brightest and most sparkling fireworks, people continue to buy and release simple and unpretentious flying lanterns into the sky.

It is interesting! sky lantern (whale:孔明灯 )

Just imagine, if the very first Sky Lantern had survived to our time, then its age today would be almost two thousand years. The invention of light lanterns soaring into the sky under the influence of heated air is attributed to the Chinese general Zhuge Liang (who had the honorary title of Kunming in China), who used them in his military campaigns at the beginning of the third century AD.
To some it may seem that Sky lanterns- this is something new and original, and how could Sky Lanterns used today for the entertainment of children and adults help in conducting bloody battles? It turns out that a lot. To begin with, let's remember how limited the possibilities of our ancestors were in the means of communication. Lung use sky lanterns, quickly rising into the air and clearly visible at a distance, perfectly helped the forward detachments warn the rear about the approach of the enemy, give various orders to the generals, and report to the soldiers that help was needed. The spy airship was the most strategic element in ancient China. Sky Lanterns were actively used for military purposes, not only as an intimidation of the enemy, but also as a means of transmitting signals or about the start of an offensive. few minutes until flying flashlight was in the air, it was enough to transmit any information. First Sky lanterns were oil lamps mounted under a paper bag. A huge bag filled with hot air and rose up. The general's enemies did not understand what kind of unusual glow appeared in the air at night, panic seized them, and they left the battlefield, believing that mystical power was helping the general. Soon soaring into the sky Chinese lanterns began to be used for purely peaceful purposes. Considering the spiritual sphere of life as something higher, both high-ranking and ordinary Chinese used Sky lanterns as a man-made bridge between the earthly and heavenly worlds. A kind of “hello” to the heavenly world. Flying away Sky lanterns carried away the dreams and desires of thousands of people many, many years ago. So they became one of the obligatory attributes at every holiday. Believing that Sky Lanterns bring good luck, the Chinese used them at weddings, religious celebrations and other holidays. At a later time start flying lanterns In China, it also acquired religious significance. The symbolism of launching Sky Lanterns quickly spread throughout the world, so the peoples of Asia believe that a lantern launched into the sky frees them from various misfortunes and diseases, gives a long and happy life. Believing that they bring good luck, they were launched at weddings, funerals and just mass celebrations. In peacetime, ordinary people used Sky lanterns to convey your prayers and wishes. Launching lanterns into the sky, they wanted to be better heard. In addition, the launch of Chinese flying lanterns accompanied both small family holidays and large festivals, bringing people together, making them kinder and closer to each other.
Sky Lanterns come in different sizes - from very small to very huge, up to 10 meters high. Different shapes - in the form of cones, balls, hearts and dragons. White and multi-colored, with various inscriptions and images. Sky Lantern is a simplified model of a hot air balloon. The simplicity of its design is due to the disposability of use and low cost. The first Chinese flying lanterns were made from a bamboo frame with a holder for a wax burner, on which a rice paper dome was put on. special role Sky lanterns play in Asian culture. Here, they symbolize good luck and prosperity. That is why, in most Asian countries, Sky Lanterns are an indispensable attribute of wedding ceremonies. Sky Lanterns are used during holidays, festivals, celebrations. Regardless of time, it has always been believed that flying lanterns keep good luck. It was believed that the longer the flashlight was in the air, the more luck it would bring, protect against problems, and take everything bad with it. It was also said that if Buddhist monks with Sky Lanterns received wisdom and new knowledge, and for ordinary people, the light of a flashlight indicated the path to truth and justice.

Then they found another use - Sky Lanterns became the decoration of festive festivities and festivals; children began to use them at various carnivals. In particular, in the Middle Ages in China, neither the New Year, nor religious holidays, nor weddings, nor any other mass celebrations could do without Sky Lanterns, as now, for example, like mid-autumn, the Lantern Festival. The 15th day of the 8th month of the Chinese calendar falls on a full moon. The Lantern Festival falls at the end of the Chinese New Year and is essentially also a celebration of the full moon, but this time the first of the new year. This day is considered the beginning of a new year and flying lanterns a special place is reserved here, since it is customary to greet the new moon with thousands of multi-colored lights. There is a belief in Chinese culture that when you start Sky lanterns they carry evil spirits and misfortunes with them, and leave good luck and prosperity for those who launch them into the sky. By the way, that is why flying lanterns are often called Chinese lanterns. Subsequently, Sky Lanterns were included in the programs of the Mid-Autumn Festival and the Lantern Festival. Pingxi in Taiwan's Taipei County holds an annual Lantern Festival where Sky Lanterns are traditionally launched into the sky. Festivals are also held in other countries. One of the countries most frequently using Sky lanterns, is Thailand. The people of the Lanna Kingdom (Northern Thais) use Sky Lanterns all year round for various festivals. One of these holidays is the very important festival of the Lanna Kingdom "I Peng" (Thai:ยี่เป็ง ), which takes place on the full moon of the second month of the Lanna calendar ("I" means "second", "Peng" means "month" in the Lanna language). Due to the difference between the old Lanna calendar and the traditional central Thai calendar, this event coincides with the Loi Krathong festival, which takes place on the full moon of the twelfth month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar. During the Yi Peng festival, many sky lanterns sent to the air. At this time, flying lanterns resemble a large herd of giant jellyfish floating gracefully across the sky. The most elaborate Yi Peng celebrations can be seen in Chiang Mai, the ancient capital of the Lanna kingdom. It is believed that the launch of Sky Lanterns brings good luck, that the flying Sky Lantern also takes away all problems and worries. Sky Lanterns have become so popular among the Thai population that they have been used throughout the country. In Thailand and northern Vietnam, lanterns are launched to protect newlyweds and newborns from the machinations of evil spirits. In China itself, there is a widespread belief about the symbolism of even individual parts airships of desires. Their dome denotes the fullness of knowledge and wisdom, and the flames in the lantern illuminate the path to the right way of life and bright thoughts. When you look at the lanterns floating in the azure blue of the sky, you understand that the Chinese are right in many ways. At least I really want to believe in their bright legends

The use of Sky Lanterns as a decoration for events and holidays has become commonplace already in the 21st century. The mass use of flashlights in Europe and other countries began after 2005. So in 2005, in memory of the victims of the terrible earthquake in the Indian Ocean, which occurred in 2004, 5,000 lanterns were launched.Sky Lanterns are also known by names such as airships of desires, heavenly candle or fireball. The latter term was also applied to military balloons used during World War II. At first, Sky Lanterns ( Chinese lanterns) were unpopular with farmers in many countries, as there was a rather high risk of field fires or even death of livestock after landing. But in the future, when the production technology of Sky Lanterns changed, such a danger ceased to exist.Modern lanterns are made from more affordable and versatile materials, for example, mulberry paper is used to make the dome.
In the manufacture of sky lanterns, only environmentally friendly materials are used. The paper dome, wooden frame and fossil fuel in the burner are quickly disposed of by nature itself and do not pollute the environment.

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Sky lanterns: device

Traditionally, a flying flashlight consists of a light frame, often bamboo, and fire-resistant paper. A dry fuel burner is attached to the lower part of the frame, the flame of which heats the air in the dome and creates lift. The burner is made, most often, from cotton fabric impregnated with a flammable liquid or wax (as an option - stearin). In industrial production, burners are often made from combustible polymers. The dome is made of rice paper (with the addition of mulberry wood) impregnated with an anti-combustible compound. The shape of the dome can be different - a cylinder, a ball, a cone, a heart, figures of animals or household items.

Sky lanterns: characteristics

Weighs (on average) a standard size flying flashlight about 100-150 grams. The light weight and the flame of the burner allow it to rise to a height of about 500 meters while the burner is burning (15-20 minutes).

Launching a Sky Lantern: Precautions

Launching flying lanterns is associated with some dangers due to the use of open flames. It should also be noted that sky lanterns can be dangerous for aircraft (when launched near airports). And another possible nuisance is that an accidental fall in the city or near suburban buildings (for example, in windy weather), which can cause a fire.

Please be careful, take care of your health and property!

Sky lanterns are very beautiful and very romantic. Watch videos and photos:

(Festival in Taiwan, Pingxi)

(another video about Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival)

(British video with photos of sky lanterns)

Chinese lantern also known as sky lattern- a paper flying luminous construction made of paper stretched over a light wooden frame. It operates on the principle of a hot air balloon and is popular in eastern countries.

For the mass launch of flashlights on the territory of Russia, in accordance with the Air Code, permission from the air traffic management authorities is required.

Story

The first mention of sky lanterns was found in chronicles describing the military campaigns of the general Zhuge Liang (180-234 AD, honorary title Kunming), which sources say used them to instill fear in enemy troops: However, the device, which is a lamp in a paper container, is recorded earlier, and according to Joseph Needham, hot air balloons were known in China in the 3rd century BC. BC e.

Sky lanterns are also known to have been used as a general purpose means of signaling between command and various army units in the Chinese military. Later in China and other eastern countries, the launching of sky lanterns was given a certain religious significance.

In Europe, sky lanterns began to appear en masse in 2006. In 2005, in memory of the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake, about 5,000 lanterns were launched at Khao Lak Beach (in Thailand). Journalist Zhou Xin (Gangzhou Dailey) took second place in the Arts and Entertainment category of the world's most prestigious international photojournalism competition, World Press Photo, with his photograph of the event.

Device

The role of the supporting structure in a sky lantern is performed by a light wooden frame, usually bamboo. In its lower part there is a burner fixed on a thin wire. The traditional burner is made from a piece of cotton cloth impregnated with wax, or from porous paper impregnated with flammable liquids. In modern flashlights, the burner is sometimes made from combustible polymers. The dome is made of rice paper with the addition of . Paper, as a rule, is impregnated with a special non-combustible composition so that it does not catch fire. The frame and dome of a sky lantern can have a variety of shapes, from standard geometric shapes (cylinder, ball) to images of animals and popular household items.

Operating principle

The principle of the flight of a sky lantern

The burner flame heats the air inside the flashlight up to 100~120°C. When heated, the density of air becomes less, and, accordingly, its mass. The air inside the flashlight becomes lighter than the air outside, so the flashlight floats in the cold air.

The density of heated air inside a flashlight can be calculated using the equation of state for an ideal gas

where ρ - air density, p- absolute pressure, R- universal gas constant for dry air (287.058 J ⁄ (kg K)) and T is the absolute temperature in Kelvin.

The volume of an average flashlight is approximately 0.25 m³. At a standard atmospheric pressure of 101.325 kPa and an air temperature of 20 °C, the density of atmospheric air is 1.2041 kg⁄m³. It follows that the mass of air in a flashlight with a volume of 0.25 m³ will be about 300 grams.

When the air inside the lantern is heated to a temperature of 100 °C, its density will decrease and will be 0.946 kg⁄m³. With this density, the mass of air inside the flashlight will no longer be 300 g, but 236 g. The mass of the structure of an average Chinese lantern is about 50 g. flashlight is 14 g less than the mass of air occupying the same volume. This difference corresponds to the lifting force acting on the flashlight.

According to the law of Archimedes, a body immersed in a liquid (or gas) is acted upon by a buoyant force equal to the weight of the liquid (or gas) displaced by this body, where is the density of the liquid (gas), is the acceleration of free fall, and is the volume of the immersed body.

For a flashlight, buoyant force = 1.20kg⁄m³ × 9.8m/s² × 0.25m³ = 2.94 N. Force of gravity acting on the flashlight = 0.286kg × 9.8m/s² = 2.80 N .

The behavior of a flashlight depends on the ratio between the modules of gravity and the Archimedes force that act on this body. The flashlight will start to rise into the sky if the condition is met. In our case, this condition is met, since 2.80 N< 2,94 Н.

Some characteristics

The weight of an average sky lantern is 50-100 g. The lifting height is usually in the range of 200-500 meters, the fuel burning time in the burner is 15-20 minutes. The sizes of flashlights vary from 70*28 cm to 170*50 cm (height*diameter of the bottom ring)

Operational safety

When launching sky lanterns, certain safety requirements must be observed. For example, they cannot be launched in the immediate vicinity of airports and fire hazardous structures. To avoid fires, do not use flashlights in windy weather.

Launching sky lanterns is prohibited in many states. A metal frame from fallen lanterns leads to the death of livestock, which eats the wire along with hay, dogs on a walk injure their paws with this wire. Candles that do not have time to go out before landing set fire to thatched roofs and even destroy entire fields. There are known cases of power plant failure and a fire in a residential building, which led to the death of people.

Lantern launch event in Moscow