Shifen Sky Lantern Introduction
Heaven, in popular customs, is the abode of the Heavenly Palace, where the highest-ranked deity of folk belief, the Jade Emperor (commonly known as Tiangong), and many gods reside to protect all people. Therefore, early on, people worshipped the heavens and prayed for the Jade Emperor's blessings. For Han people, heaven represents the deity that blesses all beings and is omnipotent. Sky lanterns, also known as Kongming lanterns, are said to have been invented by Zhuge Liang during the Three Kingdoms period. It is rumored that at that time, Zhuge Liang was trapped in Pingyang City by Sima Yi and could not communicate with the outside world. He invented large lanterns, utilizing the principle of rising hot air, to send the lanterns floating into the sky as a means of military communication. Later, this practice spread to the folk and became a medium for people to pray to the heavens. During the Lantern Festival, sky lanterns are released to "deliver messages to the heavens," symbolizing prayers to the Jade Emperor. The origin of releasing sky lanterns in Pingxi can be traced back to the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty. Residents who settled in the Pingxi area, distressed by banditry and disturbances in their villages, would take refuge in the mountains. After the crisis passed, those who remained in the village released sky lanterns as a signal to inform family members to return home, which eventually turned into a local custom once the situation stabilized. Villagers often write their prayers and wishes on the sky lanterns and release them during the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the first lunar month, asking for the fulfillment of their wishes for the year and for the blessings of the deities for family safety. Hence, sky lanterns are also referred to as "blessing lanterns" or "safety lanterns." The Shifen area in Pingxi, New Taipei City, surrounded by mountains and with an average humidity of 75-80%, has a rainy and humid natural environment, making it the only place recognized by the local government where it is safe to release sky lanterns. It is this unique environment that has allowed this traditional culture to be preserved and continued in a distinctive way. (Source: New Taipei City Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival official website)
