Oriental Paper Lanterns

Oriental Paper Lanterns 

Oriental paper lanterns find their roots in China and Japan. Nevertheless, now they are popular in other parts and are also used for many purposes. Chinese oriental paper lanterns are normally kept on the ground or hung up and illuminated. These lanterns come in many shapes. People make them in oval, square, and many other creative shapes besides.

The oriental paper lanterns that are hung up are mainly used for outside illumination while the ones made to keep on the ground are used to illuminate outside. Traditionally people made them mainly out of white paper, whilst in modern days these lanterns come in various colours. Many soothing words or phrases can usually be seen on these lanterns such as love, peace, strength and so on. 

There are about five categories of Chinese oriental paper lanterns. They are “Buddha gastronomy”, “crystal magic”, “tomato light”, “rolling paper” and “baby’s bottom”. The first type of lantern is huge and mainly used in temples during religious events, whilst crystal magic lanterns come in many different shapes, shining like crystals because of their creative designs. Tomato light lanterns are globe shaped and very big. They are usually made with red paper whilst rolling paper lanterns, as their names suggests, are shaped like tall cylinders. People use these types of lanterns to illuminate places like restaurants and bars whilst the last type, baby’s bottom lanterns, is most often used with Christmas lights. They are very small compared to other types of oriental paper lanterns.

Japanese paper lanterns are circular in shape. Nevertheless, other shapes are not uncommon. These lanterns are normally coloured white, although red is not uncommon either. There is now not much difference in colour between the Chinese and Japanese lanterns, as they are all made with multiple colours. Unlike in earlier times, people now use oriental paper lanterns mainly as decorations and many use words to give out stimulating messages. The Japanese use kanji letters, which derive from Chinese, and those unfamiliar with the difference will not be able to distinguish Japanese paper lanterns from Chinese ones due to the similarity of the words.

Nowadays, oriental paper lanterns can frequently be seen in festive seasons or at festivals. Inside as well as outside, these illuminations can enhance happy feelings or relax you with dim lights, according to the occasion or place in which they are used.

Cody Scholberg, a lighting expert, writes at the paper lanterns guide.  Check out this post on using oriental paper lanterns to repel mosquitoes!