Sky Lantern孔明灯

A small hot-air lantern attributed to Zhuge Liang. Used for military signalling, it later became a cultural tradition in Chinese festivals.

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The Sky Lantern (孔明灯 kǒngmíng dēng), also called the Kongming Lantern, was a small hot-air lantern attributed to Zhuge Liang. According to tradition, he invented it to signal for help when trapped by Sima Yi’s forces. The lantern works by heating air inside a paper shell, causing it to rise. It later became a beloved cultural tradition in Chinese festivals, particularly the Lantern Festival and Mid-Autumn Festival.

References

  • Chen Shou, Records of the Three Kingdoms (三国志)
  • Luo Guanzhong, Romance of the Three Kingdoms (三国演义)
  • Sima Guang, Zizhi Tongjian (资治通鉴)
  • de Crespigny, Rafe. A Biographical Dictionary of Later Han to the Three Kingdoms