Palace lantern

A Palace lantern is one of the Han nationality traditional handicrafts, which is special during various Chinese festivals. It was created during the Eastern Han dynasty, blossoming in Sui and Tang dynasties, with strong local characteristics.Palace lantern just as its name imply that it is the lamp which is used in the palace, mainly making from fine wood as the skeleton and decorating with spun silk and glass, and draws sorts of design of coloured drawing or pattern in surface of the lantern. It is famous for its elegant and full of palace style. Clue to the fact that it was used for the palace for a long term, apart from the lighting feature, it also deserve to elaborate adornment, in order to show the wealth and luxury of the emperor. Orthodox palace lantern generally has anise, hexagonal, four corners, the pattern of each face may be "Dragon and Phoenix Bringing Auspiciousness ", "live for a long time", and "Everything goes well", etc. [1]

ChiangKaiShek-MemorialHall-LanternFestival

History

Palace lantern has been around for thousands of years in China. It has become a symbol of traditional Chinese culture. The Palace lantern, as a special arts and crafts of handicraft production in our country, enjoys a high reputation in the world. Up till now, we still can find the adornment of palace lantern in some luxury hall and residence.
The palace lantern, hanging on the beam of the hall, is general bigger and embedded tapestry or glass, with the nice effect of adornment. According to legend, after the establishment of the Eastern Han Dynasty to the Han Dynasty emperor Liu Xiu, the capital of Luoyang, in order to celebrate this achievement, the emperor commanded that the palace are compelled to decorate with all kinds og beautiful lantern and hold a big banquets to reward the people who follow him to establish the country. Later, the technology of palace lantern was introduced to the folk. Thus, The name "palace lantern" was born. On January 15 of the first year of emperor Suiyangdi, the palace lantern scattered throughout the city, decorating the city half a months. After the sui and tang dynasties, on the Lantern Festival, all the family hung their treasure lamp highly, wherever is light and bright. the custom spread to the whole country and overseas.
In Qing dynasty, due to the treasure of the palace lantern, it become the awards which was rewarded by the emperor for the dukes and ministers.[1]

Development
  1. In 1279, a sea warfare between Song and Yuan broke out in Jiangmen, which changed the dynasty, since that the southern song dynasty perished. After the war, the artists fled to Jiangmen coastal area. One of the artists called Li and his descendant constantly made palace lantern. Around the years of Guangxu, one of his descendant called LiXiyan found an industry of palace lantern in Jiangmen.
  2. In 1902, Jiangmen was set of commercial port. with the gradually flourishing commercial and the frequently diplomacy, the industry of palace lantern was blooming.
  3. in 1930,the son of Lixiyan called Lifa inherited property and made the palace lantern reborn. In the mid 1940s, due to the long-term civil war, Lifa's wife worried about that the native cultural heritage would extinct gradually. She came to Beijing to visit the forbidden city in two years, depicting the palace accessories with drawing pictures directly, and recorded comments.
  4. After 40s, Mr.Li's business gradually shifted to Hong Kong. He transform the image which was drawn by his wife into modern lanterns. In 1949, the palace lantern obtained the structure patent of the United Kingdom, and was the first patent in the history of China's lighting industry.
  5. The palace Lanterns are different from any fixtures. it is the product of lighting and the perfect combination of Arts and crafts, which is unique in the world. The palace lanterns have practical value, Oriental art and national style in China, it is rich in culture and art appreciation value.[1]

Gilt Bronze Human-Shaped Lamp

Gilt Bronze Human-Shaped Lamp, Han Chinese bronzes, unearthed from the tomb of Dou Wan in Mancheng, Hebei province, in 1968. It was displayed in China 2010 Shanghai World Expo. the Lantern is a full-bodied gilt setting maid who were holding the lamps, with an elegance expression. The body height of 48 cm, 15.85 kg. Gilt Bronze Human-Shaped Lamp was designed skillfully. on the on hand, the maid hand the lamp, on the other hand her sleeve seemed to prohibit form the wind. Actually, it is for the tubes to absorb smoke and avoid the air pollution. This Palace lantern got its name, because it has been placed in the long Palace of Dou Taihou (Liu Sheng grandmother). Nowadays, it was collected in the museum of Hebei province. [2]

ChangXingongdeng

Features

height:48 cm, Odalisque:44.5 cm, weight:15.85 kg.
The body was golden and it looks splendid and gorgeous. Gilding bronze has appeared in the Warring States period. After the gilding treatment of bronze, its surface will be beautiful, and it also plays a very important role in the protection for the bronze.

Inscriptions

There are nine engraved inscriptions on some parts of the lamp body, a total of 65 words. Around the upper bottom of the lamp holder was engraved with the inscription"长信尚浴，容一升少半升，重六斤，百八十九，今内者卧" (some Chinese characters). The handwriting of the inscription is too illegible, it may have been carved later, so the "长信尚浴" does not seem to be the first owner of the lamp. The original owner should be first carved, and the handwriting is neatly, so the six parts of the lamp body which was carved with "阳信家" illustrated that the lamp is originally belongs to the "阳信家". There was "长信"(Changxin)on the lamp, used for residence of Dou empress dowager, named "Changxin Palace lanterns". [2]

Value

Changxin Palace lantern changed the style of the old bronze vessels which was mystery, the whole shape and the style of decoration seemed to stretch freely, light and magnificent. It is a practical and beautiful lamp treasures. The maid in the statue is hollow, her right arm and empty sleeves form a copper lamp shade can freely open and close. The burning dust would not disturb to the surrounding environment, it would deposit in the lamp. The concept of environmental protection of the ancient Chinese people's wisdom. the Changxin Palace lantern was known as "China's first light". Former U.S. Secretary of state Kissinger made a trip to China to visit Changxin Palace lanterns, and laments: " Chinese have understood the environmental protection sine 2000 years ago, it is really great."
Changxin Palace lantern has been regarded as an important representative of the pinnacle of national arts and crafts. This is not only because of its rarity, the one and only, but also in its exquisite production process and unique artistic conception. Experts on archaeology and history of metallurgy agree that the exquisite design and production process of the lamp are high level, leading the palace lantern in the Han Dynasty. In 1993 it was identified as a national treasure heritage. [2]

Luoyang palace lantern

Luoyang palace lantern is a characteristic of traditional crafts and the common ornament on Lantern Festival, with strong local characteristics. he white square lamp, butterflies lamp, etc. are common. Especially, the red yarn lamp is the most famous. It has beautiful shape, and is easy to paint. Not only can be used for festive ornaments, but also art propaganda. [3]

History

Luoyang palace lantern has a long history; it was created in Eastern Han Dynasty, flourishing in the Sui and Tang Dynasties. According to legend, after the establishment of the Eastern Han Dynasty to the Han Dynasty emperor Liu Xiu, the capital of Luoyang, in order to celebrate this achievement, the emperor commanded that the palace are compelled to decorate with all kinds of beautiful lantern and hold a big banquets to reward the people who follow him to establish the country. Later, the technology of palace lantern was introduced to the folk. Thus, The name "palace lantern" was born. On January 15 of the first year of emperor Suiyangdi, the palace lantern scattered throughout the city, decorating the city half a months. After the sui and tang dynasties, on the Lantern Festival, all the family hung their treasure lamp highly, wherever is light and bright. The custom spread to the whole country and overseas.The Song Dynasty, Luoyang suffered from wars over and over again, the Lantern Festival gradually lost its presence, but the technology of lantern production has been passed down to now. [3]

This painting, by an imperial court painter in 1485, depicts the Chenghua Emperor enjoying the festivities with families in the Forbidden City during the traditional Chinese Lantern Festival. It includes acrobatic performances, operas, magic shows and setting off firecrackers.
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References

  1. 宫灯    .Accessed 11 Oct. 2016.

  2. 长信宫灯    .Accessed 11 Nov. 2016.

  3. 洛阳宫灯    .Accessed 11 Dec. 2016.
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