What is the history and significance of Kongming Lantern?

Kongming Lantern is called Kongming Lantern for two reasons. One is that the shape of Kongming Lantern is cylindrical or square cylindrical, which looks like a hat worn by Zhu Gekongming, so it is called Kongming Lantern. Another reason is that this kind of lamp is said to have been invented by Zhuge Liang during the Three Kingdoms period, so it is called Kongming Lantern.

It is said that Zhuge Liang was once besieged by Sima Yi in Pingyang, unable to send a message for help, so Zhuge Liang invented the Kongming Lantern, put a note for help under the lantern, calculated the wind direction and let it out, so that the Kongming Lantern ascended to the sky with Zhuge Liang's message for help. Later, Zhuge Liang relied on the news brought by Kongming Lantern to be successfully rescued and escaped from the world. Zhuge Liang was nicknamed Kongming, so later generations called this red lantern invented by Zhuge Liang Kongming Lantern.

After Zhuge Liang invented the Kongming Lantern, it was loved by people. Later, people put it on every holiday occasion to pray. At this time, people write their wishes on a small piece of paper and let it fly into the sky. Therefore, Kongming Lantern has the function of praying and blessing. Whenever there are major festivals, such as Lantern Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival, Kongming lanterns will be released to pray and pray.

2. Importance:

Kongming lantern is a kind of lamp that can fly to the sky, also called blessing lantern and sky lantern. The ancient Kongming lanterns in China can convey military information. It is said that Zhuge Liang invented this kind of lamp, which successfully conveyed the news that he was trapped and brought in reinforcements, thus saving the day. In modern times, the military use of Kongming lanterns has almost disappeared, and the meaning of modern Kongming lanterns is basically prayer and prayer.

In ancient times, the meaning of Kongming Lantern was not only entertainment and blessing, but also very realistic military use. In many times of crisis in ancient times, Kongming lanterns played the role of conveying news and informing people. With the development of modern science and technology, the military function of Kongming Lantern is becoming less and less obvious. Nowadays, many places have the custom and habit of flying Kongming lanterns. Most of these customs and habits come from the extension of the military use of ancient Kongming lanterns, which have been completely transformed into the function of praying for blessings and wishes in modern times.

In modern Hainan, whenever there is a major festival, people will fly Kongming lanterns to pray. When flying Kongming lanterns, people will write down their wishes on small notes, and then let Kongming lanterns fly into the sky. In the villages around Wenchang, Wanning and Danzhou in Hainan, until now, there is still the custom of tying lanterns and putting lanterns. Because Wenchang's accent is similar to that of "Tianding", boys often walk around the village with Kongming lanterns and their wishes, beating gongs and drums, and come to the temple in the village to show that they can win a good lottery.

In Hakka customs, there is a custom of flying Kongming lanterns around the Lantern Festival. People will fly Kongming's lanterns into the sky with good wishes. In Hakka, each Kongming lantern represents a child born last year.

In addition to the custom of flying Kongming lanterns in the above areas, many places with Chinese people also have the custom of flying Kongming lanterns, such as Japan, the Philippines and Mexico. The meaning of Kongming lanterns in different places may be different, but they are often similar, meaning prayer and prayer.

3. Precautions:

(1). Before placing the Kongming Lantern, check whether it is damaged. If you find any damage, please stick it with paper.

(2) In order to avoid burning out the lamp body, the folded Kongming Lantern should be fully unfolded before ignition.

(3) Two or three people should assist in the release.

(4) Please don't ignite in places with many trees and plants, residential areas in urban buildings, within 5km of Fiona Fang Airport, near high-voltage lines, warehouses, military restricted zones, gas stations, oil depots and other flammable materials.

(5) The wind is too strong, resulting in the loss of hot air, and the Kongming Lantern cannot be lifted off normally. If the wind exceeds level 4, please don't detonate.

It is recommended to fly in open places, such as beaches, rivers, rivers, lakes, large playgrounds, sports fields and suburban areas without trees.