Types of Chinese Lanterns
Chinese lanterns have been a part of Chinese culture for centuries. They were used by the military to send messages and warnings. Families placed them in their doorways to ward off evil spirits. Specific colors are used to celebrate weddings and births as well as to mourn a death. They can be plain or elaborate and are considered to be folk art.
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Sky Lanterns
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Also known as flying lanterns, these are made of flameproof paper with a lit candle inside. The warm air inside can cause the lanterns to rise up to 1000 meters. They are flown as symbols of good wishes at New Year.
Riddle Lanterns
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Riddle lanterns are placed in a doorway at New Year. They have a riddle written on the side of the lantern. The person who correctly answers the riddle gets a prize.
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Beijing Style
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Beijing style lanterns are made from steel frames with a red silk covering. They are hung with gold tassels and decorated with a "ruyi," a scepter known for granting wishes.
Suzhou Style
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Suzhou style lanterns vary in shape and are quite delicate. They can be birds, fish, flowers, buildings and even human shapes. They are very artistic with complicated paper cuttings and paper carving on their sides.
Haining Style
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These lanterns are also known as pinprick lanterns. They have a bamboo frame and painted paper coverings. The paper can have anywhere from 10,000 to 300,000 pinpricks, depending on the size and design of the lantern, to allow the light to shine through and create images.
Wenzhou Style
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Dragon boat lanterns come from Wenzhou. These are large lanterns that can be 3 meters long and 3 meters tall. Each lantern is made of two layers of paper, the inside one being white while the outside layer is colorful. A light inside illuminates the figures drawn on the white paper inside the dragon's abdomen.
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