Even in the Western Han (206 BCE – 9 CE) period, about 2,000 years ago, the Lantern Festival ending the Chinese New Year festivities had already existed. However, the practice of appreciating lanterns during this festival actually originated in the Eastern Han Dynasty (206 BCE – 220 CE) under Emperor Han Mingdi’s reign.The Emperor was a big advocator of Buddhism. On the first lunar month’s 15th day, Chinese monks would light lanterns to worship the Buddha. When Mingdi heard of this custom, he officially decreed all temples and the palace to light lanterns for worshiping the Buddha on this night, and for all the people across the country to hang out lanterns as well. Year after year, this Buddhist festival came to grow into a grand folk festival, first from the royal palace to the people, and then from the Central China region to the whole of the country.
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