Asian Lanterns are very popular around the world, not just in Asia but in many countries. This group is for all lanterns whether made in Asia or from non Asian countries, please feel free to show your pictures of lanterns from your own country or from places you have traveled.
The simplest technology used is the candle lantern. Candles give only a weak light, and must be protected from wind to prevent from flickering.
Decorative lanterns exist in a wide range of designs. Some hang from buildings or restaurants while others are placed on or just above the ground. Paper lanterns occur in societies around the world.
A lantern can be a paper lantern like this,
or a stone lantern like this,
The ancient Chinese sometimes captured fireflies in transparent or semi-transparent containers and used them as (short-term) lanterns. Raise the Red Lantern, a Chinese film, prominently features lanterns as a motif.
Lanterns were originally introduced into Japan by China. The first ones were made of metal and primarily used to light doorways to shrines and temples. They were later made of stone for use in gardens, but it wasn't until they were introduced into Japanese tea gardens by tea-master Sen-no-Rikkyu did they really become a major garden element. Japanese tea ceremonies were often held in the evenings and light was needed to guide guests to the tea room.
