Why does most traditional Chinese lantern has 8 surface?

Posted by Risa Harada on May 7th, 2010 | no comments

Today, my foreign friends asked that why does most traditional Chinese lantern has 8 surface? I had not noticed this problem before, but I think it’s because the following two reasons.

1. Octagonal Chinese lanterns framework can save material( if you use 3dsmax to create a octagonal Chinese lanterns you will find it), keep firm structure  and ensure lanterns looks like a round. In China round is a symbol of family reunion and happiness.

2. Eight is a very special and lucky number in China, many idioms used eight, and their means almost represent good and lucky.

Octagonal Chinese lanterns

And in recent time, the surface number of Chinese lanterns is not very strict, I think it’s for the development of social, we do not need to save material.

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