Pingxi Sky Lanterns Introduction
Heaven, in folk belief, is regarded as the abode of the heavenly palace, where the highest-ranked deity in popular belief, the Jade Emperor (commonly known as Tian Gong), and other gods reside to protect all the people. Therefore, early on, people prayed to the heavens for blessings from Tian Gong, which for Han people symbolizes the divine power that protects all living beings. The sky lantern, also known as Kongming lantern, is said to have been invented by Zhuge Liang during the Three Kingdoms period. It is said that when Zhuge Liang was trapped in Pingyang City by Sima Yi and could not communicate with the outside world, he invented a large lantern that utilized the principle of hot air rising to float into the sky, serving as a military communication tool. This practice later spread to the civilian population, becoming a medium for people to pray for blessings from the heavens. Releasing sky lanterns during the Lantern Festival symbolizes the message reaching the heavens and is a way of soliciting blessings from Tian Gong. The origin of releasing sky lanterns in Pingxi can be traced back to the Daoguang period of the Qing Dynasty when residents in the Pingxi area were troubled by bandit disturbances. They sought refuge in the mountains, and when the crisis was over, those left in the village released sky lanterns as a signal to inform their families to return home. Later, as the situation stabilized, this practice was preserved as a local custom, where villagers often wrote blessings and wishes on the lanterns, released them during the Lantern Festival on the 15th day of the Lunar New Year in hopes of fulfilling their wishes for the year and asking for safety for the entire family. Therefore, sky lanterns are also referred to as "blessing lanterns" or "safety lanterns." The Shifen area in Pingxi District, New Taipei City, is surrounded by mountains and has an average humidity of 75-80%, making it the only place recognized by the local government where sky lanterns can be safely released. It is this unique natural environment that allows this traditional culture to be preserved and continued in a different form. (Source: New Taipei City Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival Official Website)
