The formation of Lantern Festival has a long process, which is rooted in the folk custom of turning on lights to pray for blessings. According to general data and folklore, the fifteenth day of the first month has been paid attention to in the Western Han Dynasty, but the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first month really became a national folk festival after the Han and Wei Dynasties.
The rise of the custom of burning lanterns on the fifteenth day of the first month is also related to the spread of Buddhism to the east. In the Tang Dynasty, Buddhism flourished, and officials and ordinary people generally "burned lanterns for the Buddha" on the fifteenth day of the first month, so Buddhist lanterns were spread all over the people. Since the Tang Dynasty, it has become a legal thing to light lanterns on Lantern Festival.
The Historical Value of Lantern Festival
The formation of Lantern Festival custom has a long process. The introduction of Buddhist culture in the Eastern Han Dynasty is of great significance to the formation of the custom of Lantern Festival. During the reign of Emperor Yongping of the Han Dynasty (58-75 AD), when Emperor Ming advocated Buddhism, it coincided with Cai Cheng's return from India to seek Buddhism, saying that every 15th day of the first month in Mohatuo, India, monks gathered to pay tribute to Buddhist relics, which was an auspicious day to participate in Buddhism.
In order to promote Buddhism, Emperor Han Ming ordered "burning lamps to show Buddha" in the palace and temple on the fifteenth night of the first month. Therefore, the custom of burning lanterns on the fifteenth night of the first month has gradually spread in China with the expansion of the influence of Buddhist culture and the addition of Taoist culture.
Nowadays, with the development of the times, today's Lantern Festival is moving from family to society. No matter how the Lantern Festival, lanterns and fireworks change, the ancient traditional customs that the Lantern Festival continues remain unchanged. These elements of traditional culture are always the feelings that people give up constantly.