The custom of playing lanterns began in the Western Han Dynasty and flourished in the Sui and Tang Dynasties. After the Sui and Tang Dynasties, lantern style prevailed in all previous dynasties and spread to future generations. The fifteenth day of the first month is the climax of the annual lantern fireworks. On the fifteenth night of the first month, red lights are hung high in the streets and alleys, including palace lanterns, animal lanterns, lanterns, bird lanterns and so on, to attract people to watch lanterns.
The custom of burning lanterns began in the Han Dynasty, during the reign of Emperor Yongping (58-75 AD). Because Ming Chengzu advocated Buddhism, it coincided with Cai Cheng's return from India to seek Buddha. It was said that on the fifteenth day of the first month of Mohato in India, monks gathered to pay tribute to relics, which was an auspicious day to participate in Buddhism. In order to carry forward Buddhism, Emperor Han Ming ordered "burning lamps to show Buddha" in the palace temple on the 15th night of the first month. Since then, the custom of putting lights on the Lantern Festival has spread from being held only in the court to the people. That is, on the fifteenth day of the first month, both the gentry and the people hang up lights, and the urban and rural areas are brightly lit all night.
Legend 1: During the Western Han Dynasty, Emperor Wen had a dream that the Jade Emperor ordered the King of Mars to burn the capital on the 15th day of the first month. Emperor Wen was very afraid, so he called the ministers to discuss. Minister Dong Fangshuo put forward a plan, saying that he could plead with Huo Dexing to avoid this difficulty. On the fifteenth day of the first month, Huo Dexing really came to Beijing. Emperor Wen led his ministers and the people of Beijing to bow down and greet them, and begged Huo Dexing not to burn the capital for the sake of millions of people.
Huo Dexing can't bear the loss of life, but he dare not violate the dogma because of the sacredness of life. Is in a dilemma, Dong Fangshuo and put forward a plan. That night, inside and outside the capital Chang 'an, from the Palace to the People's House, all the lights were lit according to Dong Fangshuo's plan, as bright as day. The fire went straight into the sky, and Huo Dexing saw this scene as a fire, knowing that it was enough to deceive the jade emperor and return to heaven. Since then, every year on the 15th day of the first month, Zhang Ju will be lit as a memorial.
Legend 2: Daughter of the Emperor of Heaven Legend has it that a long time ago, a god bird got lost and landed on the earth, but was accidentally shot by an unsuspecting hunter. Emperor Tiandi was very angry when he learned that, so he ordered the heavenly soldiers to set fire to the world on the fifteenth day of the first month and burn all mankind to death. The daughter of the Emperor of Heaven was kind-hearted, and could not bear to see the innocent suffering of the people, so she risked her life to tell the people the news. When people heard the news, it was like a blow to the head. I'm too scared to know what to do.
After a long time, an old man came up with an idea. He said: "On the 14th, 15th and 16th of the first month, every family hangs red lanterns, lights firecrackers and sets off fireworks. In this way, the emperor will think that people have been burned to death. "
Everyone nodded and said yes, and they were ready to go separately. On the fifteenth night of the first month, the mountain soldiers looked down and found that there was red light in the world, thinking it was the flame of a big fire, and told the Emperor not to set fire to the ground. People thus saved their lives and property. In order to commemorate this success, every household hangs lanterns and sets off fireworks on the fifteenth day of the first month to commemorate this day.