{"id":271,"date":"2026-03-03T16:55:24","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T16:55:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/taoforu.com\/?p=271"},"modified":"2026-03-03T16:56:57","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T16:56:57","slug":"lantern-festival-the-millennium-old-taoist-wisdom","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/taoforu.com\/zh-hant\/blog\/2026\/03\/03\/lantern-festival-the-millennium-old-taoist-wisdom\/","title":{"rendered":"Lantern Festival: The Millennium-Old Taoist Wisdom and Folk Heritage Hidden in the Lights"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id271_ce60d0-a1 .kb-table-of-content-wrap{padding-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id271_ce60d0-a1 .kb-table-of-contents-title-wrap{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id271_ce60d0-a1 .kb-table-of-contents-title{font-weight:regular;font-style:normal;}.kb-table-of-content-nav.kb-table-of-content-id271_ce60d0-a1 .kb-table-of-content-wrap .kb-table-of-content-list{font-weight:regular;font-style:normal;margin-top:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);margin-right:0px;margin-bottom:0px;margin-left:0px;}<\/style>\r\n<div class=\"lake-content\">\r\n<h1 id=\"964aa379\"><span class=\"ne-text\">Lantern Festival: The Millennium-Old Taoist Wisdom and Folk Heritage Hidden in the Lights<\/span><\/h1>\r\n<h2 id=\"i.-introduction\"><span class=\"ne-text\">I. Introduction<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p id=\"u59997239\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">Also known as Shangyuan Festival, the Lantern Festival falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"ucf42d27e\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">On this day, the bright moon hangs high and lanterns glow brightly. As the grand finale of the Spring Festival, it is a traditional festival integrating imperial sacrifices, Taoist beliefs and folk life.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u8f21b2ad\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">From imperial lantern-lighting in the Western Han Dynasty to national carnival in the Tang and Song Dynasties, the Lantern Festival has evolved for thousands of years.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"ue74d0d3f\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">It carries the Chinese people&#8217;s eternal longing for light, reunion and good fortune\u2014from the Taoist &#8220;Heavenly Official Bestows Blessings&#8221; to folk prayers for reunion.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"ue8131efe\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">Finally, it has become a spiritual symbol engraved in national culture and the grand finale folk celebration of the Spring Festival.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2 id=\"ii.-name-system-and-cultural-orientation-of-the-lantern-festival\"><span class=\"ne-text\">II. Name System and Cultural Orientation of the Lantern Festival<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p id=\"u256cbb97\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">The Lantern Festival has multiple names, each corresponding to different cultural scenarios.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u8c83f93c\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">But its core meaning always centers on &#8220;prayer for blessings and family reunion.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u142534c4\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">Among these names, those related to Taoism have the deepest cultural significance.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"ud4dd15e9\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">They are also the core embodiment of the Lantern Festival\u2019s cultural heritage, closely linked to its Taoist connotations.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3 id=\"32fe1079\"><span class=\"ne-text\">1. Common Folk Name: Lantern Festival<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p id=\"u9705e7f1\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">Lantern Festival is the most commonly used name among the people. It gets its name from the festival\u2019s core food custom\u2014eating yuanxiao or tangyuan.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u411d4641\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">It is straightforward, close to daily life and widely popular.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u144ae4d6\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">In northern China, yuanxiao is rolled; in southern China, tangyuan is wrapped. Though different in preparation, both embody the longing for family reunion.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u35975f92\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">They enhance the festival\u2019s folk charm and become the most intuitive cultural symbol of the Lantern Festival for the public.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3 id=\"ec18719e\"><span class=\"ne-text\">2. Special Names of the Lantern Festival: Shangyuan Festival, Yuanxi and Lantern Festival<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p id=\"u3d6ef296\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">Besides the commonly used &#8220;Lantern Festival,&#8221; the holiday has three special names.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u9ef0fcfb\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">They embody the Lantern Festival\u2019s Taoist connotations, literary charm and folk scenes, enriching its cultural layers.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"ub8b578e5\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">Shangyuan Festival, the core Taoist name for the Lantern Festival, comes from the Taoist &#8220;Three Yuans Theory&#8221; \u2460.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u2a1e57e0\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">It marks the birthday of the Heavenly Official of Shangyuan and is the first of the &#8220;Three Yuans Festivals,&#8221; carrying the core meaning of &#8220;Heavenly Official Bestows Blessings.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u3a2f1608\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">Yuanxi is a common ancient literary alias for the Lantern Festival, specifically referring to the night of the 15th day of the first lunar month.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u02b9ef32\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">It is often depicted in Tang and Song poems, carrying the romantic literary connotation of the festival.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u2508a81c\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">Lantern Festival is an alias focusing on folk scenes. It gets its name from the core custom of &#8220;lighting and appreciating lanterns,&#8221; highlighting the festival\u2019s visual characteristics and carnival attribute.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2 id=\"iii.-origin-and-development-context-of-the-lantern-festival\"><span class=\"ne-text\">III. Origin and Development Context of the Lantern Festival<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p id=\"u262aec15\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">The Lantern Festival has no single origin. It is the product of long-term integration of imperial sacrifices, Taoist beliefs and folk customs.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u75c799bd\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">Its development has gone through three key stages, gradually moving from the imperial court to the people and from solemn sacrifices to a national carnival.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3 id=\"6db952ee\"><span class=\"ne-text\">1. Western Han Dynasty: The Embryonic Form of Imperial Sacrifice<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p id=\"u29cb595e\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">During the reign of Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty, a grand &#8220;Taiyi Sacrifice&#8221; was held at Ganquan Palace to worship Taiyi, the supreme god of the universe.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"ucdf8fe88\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">This is the earliest embryonic form of the Lantern Festival. At that time, it was stipulated that the sacrifice would be held from dusk until dawn on the 15th day of the first lunar month.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"ud968111c\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">The palace was lit brightly, with lanterns burning throughout the night. The ceremony was presided over by the emperor himself, accompanied by civil and military officials.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"uf94bcaac\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">It was to express respect for Taiyi and pray for the peace of the universe and the prosperity of the country. This also laid a foundation for the later folk custom of lighting lanterns during the Lantern Festival.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u8e4fd2a3\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">At this time, the Lantern Festival was only a royal sacrificial ceremony, not popular among the people.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3 id=\"09c38908\"><span class=\"ne-text\">2. Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties: The Finalization of Taoist Three Yuans Belief<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p id=\"u6ec94949\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">During the Wei, Jin, Southern, and Northern Dynasties, Taoism prevailed, and the Three Yuans Belief gradually took shape and spread widely.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u9fa0aa1d\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">Taoist classics clearly established the 15th day of the first lunar month as the birthday of the Heavenly Official of Shangyuan.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u993be764\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">Since then, the religious attribute of the Lantern Festival as &#8220;Shangyuan Festival&#8221; was officially confirmed.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u6a8ceb52\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">Imperial sacrificial customs and folk prayer customs began to integrate deeply, and the Lantern Festival gradually moved out of the imperial court and into the people.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"ub1a32955\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">People imitated the imperial court to light lanterns and pray for blessings, adding a folk atmosphere to the festival.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3 id=\"6a23bd3b\"><span class=\"ne-text\">3. Tang and Song Dynasties: The Maturity of the National Carnival Era<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p id=\"u9d8ba535\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">During the Tang and Song Dynasties, the Lantern Festival entered an era of nationwide celebration and became one of the grandest folk festivals at that time.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u7f2d7bad\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">The Tang Dynasty revered Taoism as the state religion and lifted the curfew for three days during the Lantern Festival.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u3ea072e6\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">The government held large-scale lantern shows, and the people competed to hang lanterns. Various types of palace lanterns, rotating lanterns and flower lanterns filled the streets and alleys, and the custom of lighting lanterns spread from the imperial court to the whole people.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"uc59a67eb\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">In the Song Dynasty, with the prosperity of urban economy, the scale of the Lantern Festival expanded.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u5c248f6c\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">The lantern-displaying time was extended to 5 days, and new customs such as guessing lantern riddles, eating tangyuan, and dragon and lion dances were born.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2 id=\"b1ddc1e1\"><span class=\"ne-text\">IV. Core Folk Customs and Prayer Connotation of the Lantern Festival<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p id=\"u354e2345\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">All folk activities of the Lantern Festival revolve around &#8220;welcoming blessings, reuniting families, and dispelling misfortune.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u1f537764\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">They deeply integrate Taoist wisdom and the concept of communication between humans and gods.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3 id=\"1.-lighting-and-appreciating-lanterns\"><span class=\"ne-text\">1. Lighting and Appreciating Lanterns<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p id=\"u2839b665\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">In Taoism, lantern light embodies &#8220;yang&#8221; energy. It can dispel the cold and bad luck of winter and guide the Heavenly Official on his descent to earth.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"ud24da27b\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">It is the core medium for communication between humans and gods during the Lantern Festival.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u5e6100f8\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">Families can hang red lanterns to pray for blessings. Cities can hold energy-saving lantern shows to inherit folk culture.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u226b0226\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">It is recommended to use LED lamps and degradable materials to combine traditional customs with modern environmental protection concepts.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3 id=\"81167e57\"><span class=\"ne-text\">2. Eating Yuanxiao \/ Tangyuan<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p id=\"uc3caa884\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">Yuanxiao is rolled in northern China, and tangyuan is wrapped in southern China. Both are round, symbolizing family reunion.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u735ca528\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">They also reflect the Taoist philosophical idea of &#8220;yin-yang harmony and perfect unity.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u64c294e9\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">Yuanxiao is mostly sweet with a chewy texture; tangyuan can be sweet or savory with a soft texture.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u0acdbfdc\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">Behind the differences is the Chinese people\u2019s shared longing for family reunion during the Lantern Festival.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3 id=\"3.-guessing-lantern-riddles\"><span class=\"ne-text\">3. Guessing Lantern Riddles<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p id=\"u02cfcfc2\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">Guessing lantern riddles is an elegant yet accessible activity that emerged in the Song Dynasty.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u94ad8f87\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">Riddles are pasted on lanterns, testing wisdom and adding joy to the festival. It is a representative folk custom that bridges elegance and popularity.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"ubfbcd1a5\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">Lantern riddles are also called &#8220;lantern tigers,&#8221; with ingenious riddles and appropriate answers.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u0104247f\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">They are still popular in Lantern Festival activities in various places.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3 id=\"4.-zigu-and-other-prayer-ceremonies\"><span class=\"ne-text\">4. Zigu and Other Prayer Ceremonies<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p id=\"ua2692390\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">Welcoming Zigu: Zigu is the goddess of the toilet in folk legend \u2462.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"ub0cc7035\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">On the night of the Lantern Festival, people set up incense altars to welcome Zigu, praying for family peace and women\u2019s well-being.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u3153cc4f\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">Walking to Dispel Diseases: People go out in groups to touch city walls or bridges to pray for blessings.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u33fa71a3\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">Sending Lanterns: Elders give red lanterns to younger generations, symbolizing wishes for more children and blessings.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2 id=\"33dcf045\"><span class=\"ne-text\">V. Legendary Stories and Cultural Interpretation of the Lantern Festival<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p id=\"uf6e59338\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">The folk customs, origin and Taoist connotations of the Lantern Festival are vividly reflected in folk legends.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"ue6bee458\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">These legends are rooted in imperial history, Taoist beliefs and folk traditions, making the festival\u2019s cultural connotation tangible.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3 id=\"1.-dongfang-shuo-and-maid-yuanxiao\"><span class=\"ne-text\">1. Dongfang Shuo and Maid Yuanxiao<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p id=\"u44e0b299\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">According to legend, during the reign of Emperor Wu of the Western Han Dynasty, a maid named Yuanxiao was overcome with homesickness.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"ua35b9686\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">Dongfang Shuo devised a plan to make Emperor Wu order the whole city to light lanterns and eat yuanxiao on the 15th day of the first lunar month.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"udbe89009\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">This cleverly explained the origin of the two core folk customs and combined the imperial sacrificial scene with the folk wish for reunion.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3 id=\"2.-heavenly-official-bestows-blessings\"><span class=\"ne-text\">2. Heavenly Official Bestows Blessings<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p id=\"u0c35ea2f\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">This legend is a folk interpretation of the Taoist &#8220;Three Yuans Belief.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u32af2a84\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">According to the &#8220;Scripture of the Three Officials,&#8221; the Heavenly Official descends to earth on the 15th day of the first lunar month to bestow grace.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u50b60e7f\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">People set up fasts and burn incense to pray for blessings, reflecting the Taoist concept of &#8220;coexistence of humans and gods.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3 id=\"1c5102a3\"><span class=\"ne-text\">3. Chang&#8217;e and the Lantern Festival<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p id=\"uc9a6b005\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">A romantic legend links the Lantern Festival to the story of Chang\u2019e flying to the moon.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"uf2d00285\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">Legend has it that Chang\u2019e lit lanterns to miss her husband Hou Yi on the full-moon night.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u86de99ea\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">People imitated her, which enriched the cultural connotation of the Lantern Festival.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2 id=\"76ceb318\"><span class=\"ne-text\">VI. Cultural Connotation and Philosophical Core of the Lantern Festival<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p id=\"u65a56db0\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">The cultural core of the Lantern Festival is the perfect integration of the Taoist concept of &#8220;harmony between humans and nature&#8221; \u2463 and folk life.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3 id=\"dd965419\"><span class=\"ne-text\">1. Philosophical Core: Yin-Yang Balance<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p id=\"u479fd73a\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">Yin-yang balance is the core philosophical essence of the Lantern Festival, rooted in the Taoist concept of &#8220;harmony between humans and nature&#8221; \u2463.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u9dd35e7e\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">On the 15th day of the first lunar month, yin energy reaches its peak, and yang energy begins to emerge.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u9fdeb36b\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">The core customs of the Lantern Festival, such as lighting lanterns and admiring the moon, conform to this natural law.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3 id=\"8c9a94bc\"><span class=\"ne-text\">2. Faith Core: Three Yuans Belief<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p id=\"ua88eecc9\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">The Three Yuans Belief is the core of the Lantern Festival\u2019s faith. As the first of the &#8220;Three Yuans Festivals,&#8221; Shangyuan Festival focuses on &#8220;bestowing blessings.&#8221;<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"uf8208054\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">Taoist classics record that the Heavenly Official is responsible for bestowing blessings on the world, and the 15th day of the first lunar month is his birthday.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h3 id=\"0d043f91\"><span class=\"ne-text\">3. Cultural Characteristic: National Carnival<\/span><\/h3>\r\n<p id=\"ua3996727\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">National carnival is the most distinctive cultural feature of the Lantern Festival, reflecting the inclusiveness of Chinese culture.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"uc920a3c9\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">In ancient times, it broke down hierarchical and gender barriers. Everyone could go out to participate in festival activities.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u58c08bf0\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">Ancient women, who usually stayed at home, could also freely go out to admire lanterns during the festival.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2 id=\"vii.-conclusion\"><span class=\"ne-text\">VII. Conclusion<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p id=\"u76812db8\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">Over thousands of years, the form of the Lantern Festival has evolved, but the Chinese people\u2019s longing for light, reunion and good fortune has remained unchanged.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u36f7cddb\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">It carries both the profound wisdom of Taoism and the warmth of folk life.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u800ff6ae\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">As a precious cultural treasure of the Chinese nation, it is passed down from generation to generation, inheriting the cultural heritage.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<h2 class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">VII<\/span><span class=\"ne-text\">I<\/span><span class=\"ne-text\">. <\/span><span class=\"ne-text\">Glossary<\/span><\/h2>\r\n<p id=\"uc8a52977\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">\u2460 Three Yuans Theory: A core Taoist concept. It holds that the universe is composed of Heaven, Earth and Water, corresponding to three festivals overseen by three officials.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u8d6c2dbc\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">It is the core source of the title &#8220;Shangyuan Festival&#8221; and the foundation of the Lantern Festival\u2019s faith connotation.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u89ef0778\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">\u2461 Taiyi: The supreme god of the universe revered by Taoism. The custom of lighting lanterns during the Lantern Festival originated from the sacrifice to Taiyi.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"u4d55e039\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">\u2462 Goddess of the Toilet: A deity in folk legend, specifically Zigu. She can divinate sericulture, farming and future fortune.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"ue7ec14ea\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">\u2463 Harmony between Humans and Nature: A core Taoist concept advocating harmonious coexistence of humans, nature and the universe.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<p id=\"uf15edd86\" class=\"ne-p\"><span class=\"ne-text\">\u2464 Supporting Yang and Dispelling Bad Luck: A Taoist concept. It refers to promoting yang energy and dispelling cold and bad luck through specific practices like lighting lanterns.<\/span><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list\">\n<div id=\"faq-question-1772556837209\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Is there any difference between the Lantern Festival and Shangyuan Festival?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>No essential difference. They are different names for the same festival.<br \/>Lantern Festival is the common folk name, focusing on food customs. Shangyuan Festival is the elegant Taoist name, emphasizing the Taoist connotation of &#8220;Heavenly Official Bestows Blessings.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1772556861596\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Besides praying for blessings, does lighting lanterns have other meanings?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>Yes, it also contains the Taoist meaning of &#8220;supporting yang and dispelling bad luck&#8221; \u2464.<br \/>Lantern light symbolizes &#8220;yang&#8221; energy, dispelling winter\u2019s cold and conforming to the natural law of yin-yang balance.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1772556883832\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">What is the &#8220;Three Yuans Theory&#8221;? What is its connection with the Lantern Festival?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>It is a core Taoist concept, referring to the three officials of Heaven, Earth and Water corresponding to three festivals.<br \/>The 15th day of the first lunar month is Shangyuan Festival (Lantern Festival), the birthday of the Heavenly Official, with the core of &#8220;bestowing blessings.&#8221;<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-question-1772556902590\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question\">Is the custom of welcoming Zigu still suitable to be held now?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer\">\n\n<p>Welcoming Zigu is an ancient folk prayer custom, focusing on praying for peace and smoothness.<br \/>Now its form can be simplified, retaining its cultural connotation and avoiding feudal superstition.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As the first full-moon night of the Lunar New Year, the Lantern Festival embodies the Taoist &#8220;Three Yuans Belief&#8221; and the longing for family reunion.<\/p>\n<p>To explore its essence, this article breaks down its core content\u2014names, origin and folk customs\u2014from seven key dimensions.<\/p>\n<p>It explains metaphysical terms related to the Lantern Festival in plain language. Combined with practical cases, it presents folk scenes, making the cultural connotation of this millennium-old festival clear and perceptible.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":272,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[21,19],"class_list":["post-271","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized","tag-chinese-almanac","tag-energy-ritual"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/taoforu.com\/zh-hant\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/taoforu.com\/zh-hant\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/taoforu.com\/zh-hant\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/taoforu.com\/zh-hant\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/taoforu.com\/zh-hant\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=271"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/taoforu.com\/zh-hant\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":275,"href":"https:\/\/taoforu.com\/zh-hant\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/271\/revisions\/275"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/taoforu.com\/zh-hant\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/272"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/taoforu.com\/zh-hant\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=271"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/taoforu.com\/zh-hant\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=271"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/taoforu.com\/zh-hant\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=271"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}