Kongming lamp (wishing lamp) was used to transmit military signals in ancient times
Kongming lantern, also known as sky lantern, wishing lantern and praying lantern are ancient handicrafts of Han nationality.
In ancient times, Kongming lanterns were mostly used for military purposes. Modern people put Kongming lanterns for blessing. Men, women, old and young personally write down the wish of blessing, symbolizing the success of harvest and happiness every year.
Kong Ming lantern is usually used in the Lantern Festival, the Mid Autumn Festival and other major festivals.
It is said that in the Five Dynasties (907-960 AD), there was a beautiful woman named Xin Qiniang. When she was fighting with her husband in Fujian, China, she used bamboo strips to form a square frame and paste paper to make a headlight. The burning resin was placed on the chassis. The lamp flew up into the sky by hot air and was used as a military communication signal. This kind of rosin lamp is called Kongming lamp in Sichuan. This kind of Lantern looks like the hat Zhuge Liang wears, Zhugeliang was named Kongming too, which is the origin name of Kongming lamp.
It is also said that Zhuge Liang invented Kong Mingdeng in the Three Kingdoms period. When Zhuge Liang was besieged by Sima Yi in Pingyang, the whole army was at a loss. Zhuge Liang came up with a clever plan to calculate the wind direction. He ordered people to take thousands of pieces of white paper and paste them into countless lanterns. Then he took them into the air with the upward gravity of the smoke. One by one, small lanterns were raised, and the soldiers in the camp cried out: "Mr. Zhuge is breaking through with the sky lamp!". Sima Yi took it seriously and led his troops to pursue the sky lantern. Zhuge Liang was able to escape. So later generations called this kind of lantern "Kongming lamp".
Modern people put Kongming lamp as a blessing. Men, women, old and young personally write down the wish of blessing, symbolizing the success of harvest and happiness every year.
In Taiwan, Kong Ming lamp is also called Ping An lamp. In this way, they send a "safe" signal.
Kongming lantern is already a kind of culture. It is forbidden to fly in many places. Please pay attention to the local air control requirements.
