The Lantern Festival, also known as the Lantern Festival, Xiaozhengyue, Lantern Festival or Lantern Festival, is one of China's traditional festivals, held on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month every year. The first lunar month is the first month of the lunar calendar, and the ancients called "night" "xiao". The fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the first full-moon night of the year, so the fifteenth day of the first lunar month is called the "Lantern Festival". According to the Taoist "Three Yuan" theory, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month is also called the "Shangyuan Festival". The Lantern Festival custom has been dominated by the warm and festive lantern viewing custom since ancient times.

The formation of the Lantern Festival has a long process, which is rooted in the ancient folk custom of turning on lights to pray for blessings. According to general information and folklore, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month has been taken seriously in the Western Han Dynasty, but the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month truly became a national folk festival after the Han and Wei dynasties. The rise of the custom of lighting lanterns on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month is also related to the spread of Buddhism to the east. Buddhism flourished in the Tang Dynasty. Officials and common people generally "burned lanterns to worship Buddha" on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. Buddhist lights spread among the people. From the Tang Dynasty, lighting up lanterns during the Lantern Festival became a custom Legal matters.

The Lantern Festival is one of the traditional festivals in China, the Chinese cultural circle and overseas Chinese. The Lantern Festival mainly includes a series of traditional folk activities such as viewing lanterns, eating glutinous rice balls, guessing lantern riddles, and setting off fireworks. In addition, many local Lantern Festivals also include traditional folk performances such as dragon lantern parade, lion dance, stilt walking, land boat rowing, Yangko dancing, and Taiping drum playing. In June 2008, the Lantern Festival was selected into the second batch of national intangible cultural heritage.

Origin of the festival

The Lantern Festival is a traditional festival in China. The formation of the custom of the Lantern Festival has a long process and is rooted in the ancient folk custom of turning on lights to pray for blessings. Turning on lanterns to pray for blessings usually starts on the 14th night of the first lunar month to "test the lanterns", and the night of the 15th is the "main lantern". Folks light lanterns, also known as "sending lanterns", to perform sacrifices to gods and pray for blessings. The introduction of Buddhist culture in the Eastern Han Dynasty also played an important role in the formation of the customs of the Lantern Festival. During the Yongping period of Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty, in order to promote Buddhism, Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty ordered that on the fifteenth night of the first lunar month, lanterns should be lit in palaces and temples to represent the Buddha. Therefore, the custom of lighting lanterns on the fifteenth night of the first lunar month gradually expanded in China with the expansion of the influence of Buddhist culture and later the addition of Taoist culture. During the Southern and Northern Dynasties, displaying lanterns during the Lantern Festival gradually became a custom. Emperor Wu of Liang believed in Buddhism, and his palace was decorated with lights on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. During the Tang Dynasty, cultural exchanges between China and foreign countries became closer and Buddhism flourished. Officials and common people generally "burned lanterns to worship Buddha" on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, and Buddhist lights spread among the people. Starting from the Tang Dynasty, lighting up lanterns during the Lantern Festival has become a legal matter.

The fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the Lantern Festival, also known as the Lantern Festival, Lantern Festival, and Lantern Festival. The first month of the first lunar month is the first month of the lunar calendar. The ancients called night "Xiao", so the fifteenth day of the first lunar month is called the "Lantern Festival". With the changes of society and times, the customs and habits of the Lantern Festival have already undergone major changes, but it is still a traditional Chinese folk festival. When the Lantern Festival was formed in the early stages of the festival, it was only called the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the first half of the first lunar month or the first day of the month. After the Sui Dynasty, it was called Yuanxi or Yuanye. In the early Tang Dynasty, it was influenced by Taoism and was also called Shangyuan Festival. In the late Tang Dynasty, it was occasionally called Yuanxiao Festival. But since the Song Dynasty, it has also been called Dengxi. In the Qing Dynasty, it was also called Lantern Festival. Abroad, Lantern Festival is also known as The Lantern Festival. On the night of the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, Chinese people are known to enjoy a series of traditional folk activities such as viewing lanterns, eating glutinous rice balls, eating Yuanxiao, guessing lantern riddles, and setting off fireworks.

Other legends

Commemorating "Ping Lu"

It is said that the Lantern Festival was established during the reign of Emperor Wen of the Han Dynasty to commemorate "Ping Lu". After the death of Liu Bang, the emperor of the Han Dynasty, Liu Ying, the son of Empress Lu, ascended the throne as Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty. After Emperor Hui of the Han Dynasty died of illness, Empress Lu took over the affairs of the country and turned the Liu family into the Lu family. The veterans of the court and the Liu family were deeply indignant, but they were all afraid of Empress Lu's cruelty and dared not speak out.

After Empress Lu died of illness, Zhu Lu was in panic and feared being hurt and excluded. Therefore, they secretly gathered at the home of General Lu Lu to plot a rebellion in order to completely seize the Liu family. This incident reached the ears of Liu Xiang, King of Qi, the Liu family. In order to protect the Liu family, Liu Xiang decided to launch an army to attack Zhu Lu. He then contacted the founding veterans Zhou Bo and Chen Ping, and designed to eliminate Lu Lu. The "Zhu Lu Rebellion" was finally over. Completely pacified.

After the rebellion was put down, the ministers supported Liu Bang's fourth son Liu Heng to ascend the throne and became Emperor Wen of Han. Emperor Wen was deeply aware that peace and prosperity were hard-won, so he designated the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, the day when the "Zhu Lu Rebellion" was quelled, as a day to enjoy the day with the people. Every house in the capital decorated with lights and colors to celebrate. Since then, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month has become a popular folk festival - "Lantern Festival".

During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty, the sacrificial activities for "Taiyi God" were held on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. (Taiyi: God who dominates everything in the universe). It is said that when Sima Qian created the "Taichu Calendar", he had already designated the Lantern Festival as a major festival.

Torch Festival

The Lantern Festival is a traditional festival in China since ancient times. It is said that Lantern Festival lantern viewing began in ancient times when people held torches in the countryside to drive away insects and beasts, hoping to reduce pest damage and pray for a good harvest. . To this day, people in some areas of southwestern China still make torches out of reeds or tree branches on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, and hold the torches high in groups to dance in fields or drying fields. Since the Sui, Tang and Song Dynasties, it has become more prosperous. Tens of thousands of singers and dancers participated in the performance, ranging from dusk to dusk and ending at dusk. With the changes of society and times, the customs and habits of the Lantern Festival have already undergone major changes, but it is still a traditional Chinese folk festival.

"Three Yuan Theory"

The custom of lighting lanterns during the Lantern Festival is also believed to have originated from the Taoist "Three Yuan Theory"; Shangyuan means the first full moon of the new year. meaning night. The origin of the Shangyuan Festival is recorded in "Sui Shi Za Ji" that it is due to the stereotypes of Methodism.

The gods worshiped by Wu Dou Mi Dao, an important sect of Taoism in the late Han Dynasty, are Tianguan, Diguan, and Shuiguan. It is said that Tianguan blesses blessings, Diguan forgives sins, and Shuiguan relieves misfortune. It also uses three yuan to match the three officials, saying that the Tianguan first month of the Yuan Dynasty On the 15th day of the year, the Earth Official of Zhongyuan is born on the 15th day of July, and the Shuiguan of Lower Yuan Dynasty is born on the 15th day of October. Taoism in the Wei and Jin Dynasties matched the "Three Officials" with the seasons, and designated the fifteenth day of the first lunar month as "Shang Yuan", the fifteenth day of July as "Zhong Yuan", and the fifteenth day of October as "Xia Yuan", collectively known as "Three Yuan" ". In this way, the fifteenth day of the first lunar month is called the Shangyuan Festival. Wu Zimu of the Southern Song Dynasty said in "Mengliang Lu": "The Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month is the day when the heavenly official of the Shangyuan Dynasty bestows blessings." Therefore, lanterns must be lit on the Shangyuan Festival.

Emperor Ming’s respect for Buddha

It originated from Buddhism. This statement is mainly from "Three Hundred Questions on Social Customs" edited by Mr. Hu Shensheng: "In Buddhist teachings, firelight is compared to the power of Buddha. In the Sutra of Infinite Life, there is a saying that 'infinite flames illuminate the infinite'. In Buddhist teachings, , lamps have always been used as one of the offerings in front of the Buddha. And it has been repeatedly promoted in Buddhist scriptures: "Hundreds of lamps are used to repent of sins" ("Bodhisattva Sutra"), "Lamps are the most blessed field in the world" ("Infinite Life Sutra"). In Buddhist legends, lighting lanterns on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month is related to the miracles of Buddha.

According to the "History of Monks", Buddha Sakyamuni. The miracle of Nishiki and the subjugation of gods and demons occurred on December 30th in the West, which is the fifteenth day of the first lunar month in the East. In order to commemorate the transformation of Buddha, a lamp-burning ceremony was held on this day. During the reign of Emperor Ming of the Eastern Han Dynasty, Mo Tengzhu Farland came to preach. Emperor Ming of the Han Dynasty ordered the lighting of lanterns on the fifteenth day of the first lunar month, and he personally went to temples to light up lanterns to show respect to the Buddha. From then on, the Lantern Festival lanterns became popular. "However, some scholars believe that this view is untenable. Buddhism just takes advantage of people's festive atmosphere on this day to expand its influence.