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Quanzhou-style
Lanterns
These
lanterns
are
representative
of the
traditional
lantern,
and are
typically
made
using
the
tough
yet
flexible
Makino
bamboo,
cotton
linen
and hemp
as the
three
principle
materials.
It is
made by
interweaving
strips
of
bamboo
and
hence
the
lanterns
are
rigid
and
cannot
be
collapsed
and
stored. |
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Fuzhou-style
Lanterns
Also
known as
Xiamen
style
lanterns
or
umbrella
lanterns,
it is
the
second
form of
traditional
lanterns
in
Taiwan
(the
other
being
Quanzhou-style
lanterns).
The
materials
used to
craft
them
were
similar
to that
of
Quanzhou-style
lanterns.
However,
the
difference
was that
Fuzhou-style
lanterns
can be
collapsed
and
stored. |
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Flying
lanterns
Also
known as
Kongming
lanterns,
it was
said
that
these
lanterns
were
made
during
the
Three
Kingdoms
era by
Zhuge
Liang
when he
was
trapped
at
Pingyang
by Sima
Yi. By
calculating
wind-directions
and
using
paper
lanterns
to send
messages
for aid,
Zhuge
Liang
was able
to break
loose.
The
materials
used to
make
Flying
Lanterns
are thin
paper, a
piece of
burning
oil and
metal
wire.
Paper
was
pasted
on the
wireframe
to make
a
structure
similar
to the
shape of
a chef’s
hat. The
bottom
hole was
then
placed
over a
piece of
burning
oil held
by wire.
The
lantern
can then
be
released
by
lighting
the oil. |
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Decorated
Lanterns
Also
known
today as
the
flower
lanterns,
the
design
was the
evolution
from
caged-lanterns
and
palace
lights.
Originally
made
using
bamboo
as the
main
material,
improvements
of the
modern
allowed
the
lantern
to be
made
nowadays
using a
frame of
metal
wire and
plastic
canvas
as its
outer
covering,
and a
light-bulb
fixture
inside. |
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Jack-o-Lanterns
It was
said
that an
Irishman
managed
to trap
Satan
with a
crucifix
in a
drunken
state.
Satan
bargained
that he
would
prevent
the man
from
going to
hell in
exchange
for his
freedom.
The
Irishman
passed
away not
long
after,
but due
to his
miserly
nature,
he was
unable
to
ascend
to
heaven
as well.
Satan
thus
placed
burning
charcoals
in
pumpkin
husks so
that the
Irishman’s
soul can
find its
way in
the
dark.
The
materials
used to
make
Jack-o-Lanterns
are
pumpkins
and
candles. |
