In the night memories of old Beijing, lanterns stand out as a unique symbol of festive feelings and daily warmth, with the elegance of “bright lanterns illuminating the long street at dusk, and each lantern embodying craftsmanship”. This traditional craft, with bamboo strips as the frame and colored paper as the cover, has a history of more than 2,000 years. Evolving from simple lamps to exquisite palace lanterns and rotating lanterns, it not only embodies the pursuit of symmetry and artistic conception in Chinese aesthetics but also reflects old Beijingers’ expectation for reunion and joy. For foreign travelers, exploring Beijing lanterns is an excellent way to understand the integration of Chinese festive culture and handcraft art.
The origin of Beijing lanterns can be traced back to the Han Dynasty. At that time, most were simple lamps made of bamboo frames and oil paper, used for sacrifice and lighting with primitive and simple shapes. After development during the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties, lanterns gradually evolved from practical utensils to decorative art, and the custom of hanging lanterns during festivals gradually formed. In the Sui and Tang Dynasties, with the prosperity of the capital culture, lantern craftsmanship became increasingly mature. Hanging and appreciating lanterns during the Lantern Festival became a national custom, and the grand lantern shows in Chang’an and Luoyang have been passed down to this day, laying a foundation for the development of Beijing lanterns. In the Ming and Qing Dynasties, as the capital, Beijing witnessed the heyday of lanterns. It not only formed two major schools: court palace lanterns and folk lanterns but also gave birth to characteristic types such as glazed lanterns, rotating lanterns and yarn lanterns, becoming a festive symbol sought after by both royal nobles and ordinary people.
The craftsmanship of court palace lanterns is the most exquisite, especially the “hexagonal palace lantern”. Its shape is regular and symmetrical, with the frame made of high-quality hardwood, carved with auspicious patterns such as dragons, phoenixes and auspicious clouds on the surface. The lampshade is made of silk, rice paper or glass, painted with landscapes, flowers, birds, opera stories and other patterns. When lit, the light and shadow flow, elegant and extraordinary. Folk lanterns are more down-to-earth. Craftsmen skillfully use bamboo strips, colored paper, silk and other raw materials to make rotating lanterns, rabbit lanterns, lotus lanterns and other types, among which rotating lanterns are the most exquisite——heating the air through the candle inside the lantern to form air flow, driving the paper figures inside the lantern to rotate, staging the interesting scene of “watching a play under the lantern”. Since the Qing Dynasty, lantern workshops have been scattered in Qianmen and Liulichang. Every Lantern Festival, Qianmen Street, Ditan Park and other places are decorated with lanterns, forming a lantern show stretching for miles, becoming the most representative festive landscape of old Beijing.
The exquisiteness of Beijing lanterns lies in the ultimate control of raw materials and craftsmanship. The whole process is completed by hand, with craftsmanship hidden in every step from frame building to pattern decoration. Raw material selection is extremely rigorous: the frame is mostly made of flexible southern bamboo, processed through soaking, drying, baking and other procedures to remove moisture and impurities, ensuring it is not easy to deform or crack; the lampshade is made of silk, rice paper or glass with good light transmittance, facilitating the presentation of light and shadow; decorative materials include silk, colored paper, tassels, beads and so on, fitting the festive atmosphere. Only simple tools such as bamboo knives, scissors, paste and brushes are needed. With experience and ingenuity, craftsmen can turn simple raw materials into exquisite lantern works.
The core procedures are divided into three steps: frame building, lampshade pasting and pattern decoration, each testing the craftsman’s skill. Frame building requires accurate size calculation to ensure symmetrical and stable shape, especially the hexagonal and octagonal frames of palace lanterns. Bamboo strips need to be bent into regular arcs, and the joints are reinforced with paste and hemp rope, which still do not deform after months of drying; when pasting the lampshade, it is necessary to control the strength to avoid paper wrinkles, and at the same time ensure the lampshade is flat and tight with uniform light transmission; pattern decoration is the soul of lanterns. Craftsmen integrate auspicious meanings into patterns through hand painting, paper cutting, embroidery and other techniques——dragon lanterns are painted with dragons and phoenixes, Lantern Festival decorations are painted with reunion patterns, and the paper figures inside rotating lanterns restore Peking Opera characters and folk scenes, rich in details and storytelling. A complex palace lantern work may take months or even half a year to polish layer by layer from the frame to the decoration, to present the stunning effect of “bright lanterns illuminating the night”.
Today, Beijing lanterns are revitalized under the persistence and innovation of inheritors. Li Banghua, a national-level inheritor, has been deeply engaged in lantern craftsmanship for decades. He not only fully inherits ancient techniques such as palace lanterns and rotating lanterns but also integrates modern elements, combining LED light sources, environmentally friendly materials with traditional shapes to extend the service life of lanterns. He also develops mini lantern pendants, cultural and creative desk lamps and other products, making ancient techniques close to contemporary life. He opened a studio in Liulichang, inheriting the craft through accepting apprentices, giving lectures and on-site demonstrations. Especially during the Lantern Festival, he leads his team to create large-scale lantern groups, reproducing the grand scene of old Beijing lantern shows. Young inheritors promote lanterns through short videos and live broadcasts, letting more people understand the charm of this craft. In 2008, Beijing lanterns (palace lantern making craftsmanship) were included in the second batch of national intangible heritage list, receiving systematic protection.
To experience the charm of Beijing lanterns immersively, it is necessary to grasp the best time and places. Around the 15th day of the first lunar month (Yuanxiao Festival) every year, large-scale lantern shows are held in Qianmen Street, Ditan Park, Shichahai and other places. Hundreds of thousands of lanterns light up the night sky, including traditional palace lanterns, creative lantern groups and interactive lantern exhibitions. You can also watch craftsmen make lanterns on site and experience simple procedures such as pasting and painting. Lantern studios in Liulichang and folk cultural and creative stores in Qianmen sell various lantern works all year round, from mini pendants to large palace lanterns, meeting collection and commemoration needs. In addition, the Beijing Folk Custom Museum displays rare lanterns from past dynasties, allowing you to systematically understand the historical evolution and artistic characteristics of lanterns, and feel the cultural depth of “a bright lantern hiding thousands of years of history”.
From simple Han Dynasty lamps to the prosperity of Ming and Qing palace lanterns, from Yuanxiao lantern shows to contemporary intangible heritage, Beijing lanterns carry not only a handcraft but also the festive memories of old Beijing and Eastern aesthetics. Every bend of bamboo strip hides the pursuit of symmetry, every stroke of pattern reflects the expectation for reunion, and the lighting of each lantern continues the joyful atmosphere spanning thousands of years. When you wander along the brightly lit long street, you can understand Beijingers’ enthusiasm for life and feel the craftsmanship and warmth hidden in the bright lanterns.
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