Chinese lantern also known as sky lattern- a paper flying luminous construction made of paper stretched over a light wooden frame. It operates on the principle of a hot air balloon and is popular in eastern countries.

For the mass launch of flashlights on the territory of Russia, in accordance with the Air Code, permission from the air traffic management authorities is required.

History

The first mention of sky lanterns was found in chronicles describing the military campaigns of the general Zhuge Liang (180-234 AD, honorary title Kunming), which sources say used them to instill fear in enemy troops: However, the device, which is a lamp in a paper container, is recorded earlier, and according to Joseph Needham, hot air balloons were known in China in the 3rd century BC. BC e.

Sky lanterns are also known to have been used as a general purpose means of signaling between command and various army units in the Chinese military. Later in China and other eastern countries, the launching of sky lanterns was given a certain religious significance.

In Europe, sky lanterns began to appear en masse in 2006. In 2005, in memory of the victims of the 2004 Indian Ocean Earthquake, about 5,000 lanterns were launched at Khao Lak Beach (in Thailand). Journalist Zhou Xin (Gangzhou Dailey) took second place in the Arts and Entertainment category of the world's most prestigious international photojournalism competition, World Press Photo, with his photograph of the event.

Device

The role of the supporting structure in a sky lantern is performed by a light wooden frame, usually bamboo. In its lower part there is a burner fixed on a thin wire. The traditional burner is made from a piece of cotton cloth impregnated with wax, or from porous paper impregnated with flammable liquids. In modern flashlights, the burner is sometimes made from combustible polymers. The dome is made of rice paper with the addition of . Paper, as a rule, is impregnated with a special non-combustible composition so that it does not catch fire. The frame and dome of a sky lantern can have a variety of shapes, from standard geometric shapes (cylinder, ball) to images of animals and popular household items.

Operating principle

The principle of the flight of a sky lantern

The burner flame heats the air inside the flashlight up to 100~120°C. When heated, the density of air becomes less, and, accordingly, its mass. The air inside the flashlight becomes lighter than the air outside, so the flashlight floats in the cold air.

The density of heated air inside a flashlight can be calculated using the equation of state for an ideal gas

where ρ - air density, p- absolute pressure, R- universal gas constant for dry air (287.058 J ⁄ (kg K)) And T is the absolute temperature in Kelvin.

The volume of an average flashlight is approximately 0.25 m³. At a standard atmospheric pressure of 101.325 kPa and an air temperature of 20 °C, the density of atmospheric air is 1.2041 kg⁄m³. It follows that the mass of air in a flashlight with a volume of 0.25 m³ will be about 300 grams.

When the air inside the lantern is heated to a temperature of 100 °C, its density will decrease and will be 0.946 kg⁄m³. With this density, the mass of air inside the flashlight will no longer be 300 g, but 236 g. The mass of the structure of an average Chinese lantern is about 50 g. flashlight is 14 g less than the mass of air occupying the same volume. This difference corresponds to the lifting force acting on the flashlight.

According to the law of Archimedes, a body immersed in a liquid (or gas) is acted upon by a buoyant force equal to the weight of the liquid (or gas) displaced by this body, where is the density of the liquid (gas), is the acceleration of free fall, and is the volume of the immersed body.

For a flashlight, buoyant force = 1.20kg⁄m³ × 9.8m/s² × 0.25m³ = 2.94 N. Force of gravity acting on the flashlight = 0.286kg × 9.8m/s² = 2.80 N .

The behavior of a flashlight depends on the ratio between the modules of gravity and the Archimedes force that act on this body. The flashlight will start to rise into the sky if the condition is met. In our case, this condition is met, since 2.80 N< 2,94 Н.

Some characteristics

The weight of an average sky lantern is 50-100 g. The lifting height is usually in the range of 200-500 meters, the fuel burning time in the burner is 15-20 minutes. The sizes of flashlights vary from 70*28 cm to 170*50 cm (height*diameter of the bottom ring)

Operational safety

When launching sky lanterns, certain safety requirements must be observed. For example, they cannot be launched in the immediate vicinity of airports and fire hazardous structures. To avoid fires, do not use flashlights in windy weather.

Launching sky lanterns is prohibited in many states. A metal frame from fallen lanterns leads to the death of livestock, which eats the wire along with hay, dogs on a walk injure their paws with this wire. Candles that do not have time to go out before landing set fire to thatched roofs and even destroy entire fields. There are known cases of power plant failure and a fire in a residential building, which led to the death of people.

Lantern launch event in Moscow

Notes

Wikimedia Foundation. 2010 .

Anyone who has ever attended Chinese New Year celebrations will never forget the ceremony of launching fire lanterns into the night sky. The sight is truly fantastic. It looks like hundreds of flashing "fireflies" rush high into the sky, conquering the skies. There is a feeling that magic descended to the earth and fascinated everyone around with its magic.

History of appearance

How and where did Chinese lanterns first appear? Sky lanterns owe their appearance to ancient China. Few people know, but initially their purpose was completely different than now. The first mentions of Chinese sky lanterns are found more than 2 thousand years ago, in ancient chronicles that tell about the combat episodes of history. With their help, they intimidated enemy troops, and used as a signaling tool. Also, with the help of flying paper heavenly candles made in the shape of a commander-in-chief's hat, military units exchanged messages on the battlefield. That is, they were used in military strategies, and won bright victories.

Over time, the Chinese forgot about the military purpose, and fire lanterns received a symbolic meaning, becoming a full-fledged traditional attribute of the culture of the Middle Kingdom. They have become symbols of goodness and prosperity. Lanterns can serve to bring good luck and material well-being to the house. They can also decorate any part of your living space.

It is believed that a burning lantern flying into the sky is able to fulfill wishes and make the most cherished dreams come true. It is necessary, with the help of hieroglyphs, to indicate your intention on paper, and then light your talisman and release it into heaven. Along with the traditional decorations that decorate the outer facades of houses, streets and trees, not a single significant holiday in China is complete without this beautiful ritual.

When it gets dark, the stream of people moves to the river bank and before starting the lanterns, people think about it in order to make a wish. At this moment, even the most inveterate skeptics hope that their wishes will certainly come true. By launching lanterns into the sky, people believed that they were undergoing a purification process and filled with new vital energy. If for some reason the lanterns do not take off, burn out at the start, without even rising, or carried away by a gust of wind, get tangled in the nearest trees, then the Chinese are not particularly upset, joking that they made too many wishes.

souvenir gifts sky lanterns popular all over the world, having managed to win recognition far beyond the borders of China. Fashion for them continues to grow, covering holidays associated with almost all areas of human life. A rare wedding does without a memorable finale with burning lanterns, which bypass even crackling fireworks in demand. They are "silent", and therefore create a more "intimate", tender atmosphere of this romantic holiday.

Luminous bright lanterns are welcome guests at other bright events - graduation parties, anniversaries, birthdays, corporate parties. Extremely popular at children's parties, as they can cause indescribable delight in any child.

Design. How is a sky lantern

What is the secret of their lightness and weightlessness, and what is the principle of operation of flying lanterns? It's all about the special design. The basis of each lantern is a bamboo frame, which is carefully covered with special rice paper. To prevent thin paper from igniting when the burner is ignited, it is pre-impregnated with a non-combustible composition. On the flashlight itself, a burner is fixed, which is made of cotton fabric treated with wax, or from porous paper with a flammable coating.

The frame and dome are made in various shapes and colors, ranging from simple geometric shapes to the exhaustion of the creator's imagination. These can be images of animals, household items, flowers, etc. The image of a dragon, especially revered in China, is also actively used in the manufacture of sky lanterns. There are modern fashionable options - for example, in the form of a smiley. Interestingly, until recently, lanterns were made exclusively by hand, so as not to violate centuries-old traditions. It is believed that the more labor is invested in their creation, the more wealth and good luck will go to the owner.

At present, China, of course, has an entire industry for the production of flying lanterns, now using the latest modern technologies, and the enterprising Chinese export them to many countries of the world.

This is how, with the help of simple devices, the Chinese invented their famous heavenly masterpiece, known and extremely popular now all over the world. The height to which it can fly is, as a rule, 200 - 1000 meters, and the duration of its life in a burning state lasts about 15-30 minutes.

It is better to launch a flashlight into the sky in an open area, a large wide area, and so that there are no tall structures, trees, parking lots nearby. After all, I would not want the flashlight to get stuck at the very beginning of the flight or create a fire hazard.

The weather for launching is preferable to choose calm and rainless. The bright sun is also undesirable, because because of its light the fire of our flashlights will not be visible. Therefore, it is desirable to launch after dusk, or do it at night.

It is better to launch lanterns into the sky together. One person holds, and the second sets it on fire. When the air inside warms up (in about a minute), then you can let go - the flashlight will soar up, and you can enjoy the beautiful spectacle of its flight.

Nowadays, it is very easy to buy Chinese souvenir lanterns. It is not necessary to visit the countries of Southeast Asia for this. Specialized stores selling Feng Shui symbols make it possible to place an order from anywhere in the world and provide a huge selection for the most demanding taste.

Bright and touching fiery "moths" will not only be a pleasant addition to any holiday, but also help to fulfill your innermost desires. Good spirits will surely notice the shimmering color, and will flock to start doing their good deeds.

China is an amazing country, with a rich culture and unique traditions, many of which are different from Europe and America. A full part of its culture can be called Chinese lanterns, an amazing design that can itself rise into the air. Such a "sky lantern", as it is also called, consists of paper, which is stretched over a light wooden frame. The design includes a burner - thanks to it, the device rises into the air and glows. Such an amazing, at first glance, device operates, according to the principle of the so-called. hot air balloon. Chinese lanterns are very popular today in almost all eastern countries.

A hot air balloon is an aerostat that has a shell filled with hot air. It was invented by the Montgolfier brothers - Michel and Etienne. The hot air balloon made its first flight in 1783. True, in fact, such a design was “tested” a little earlier - in 1709, by the Brazilian Bartolomeu de Guzman, who lived in Portugal. His model consisted of a thin egg-shaped shell and a small brazier suspended underneath. This structure managed to rise four meters above the ground. Thus, Guzman can be considered the first who was able to discover a fairly real way of lifting into the air and, in general, aeronautics of a person.

As for such an interesting invention as Chinese lanterns, it was originally used not at all for entertainment, as it is today, but as a way to intimidate the enemy during the campaigns of General Zhuge Liang. This is 180-234 BC, i.e. long before the invention of the hot air balloon. Mentions of "sky lanterns" are found in the annals that described these military campaigns, where these structures were used quite successfully. The enemy thought that divine power was helping the general and his army and was thus taken by surprise.

Researcher Joseph Needham claims that Chinese lanterns were used much earlier - in the third century BC and were a paper container with a burning lamp inside. In the Chinese army, these devices had another military meaning. They were used to give signals from the command to the troops, and vice versa. And a little later in the eastern countries, "sky lanterns" acquired a religious meaning, their launch was considered a real ritual.

In Europe, the launch of flashlights in droves appeared closer to 2005-06. In particular, in 2005, a total of up to 5,000 lanterns were launched on a Thai beach called Khao Lak (near Phuket) in memory of the victims of the earthquake that occurred in the Indian Ocean in 2004. Interestingly, a photo taken at this site during the launch won second place in the prestigious World Press Photo international photo competition.

In conclusion, we can say more about the design of the flashlight. The carrier here is the frame, which is most often made of bamboo, because. he is light. A burner is attached to its lower part, made of cloth or paper impregnated with wax or a flammable liquid. A dome is put on the frame, made of rice paper impregnated with a non-combustible composition. The height of the Chinese lantern is up to 200 meters, and the flight time is up to 20 minutes.

History of sky lanterns

Chinese masters own many truly great inventions that have changed the world. Paper, gunpowder (and then fireworks), porcelain, compass, spyglass... Even the first toothbrush, according to historians, was also made in Ancient China. So the invention of sky lanterns, which have received unexpected popularity in recent years, is also attributed to ancient Chinese commanders.

History of appearance

Just imagine, if the very first sky lantern had survived to our time, then its age today would be almost two thousand years. The invention of light lanterns soaring into the sky under the influence of heated air is attributed to the Chinese general Zhuge Liang, who used them in his military campaigns at the beginning of the 3rd century AD. By the way, this is not surprising, because even today many inventions used by people have come into wide use precisely from the military.
How could the sky lanterns used today for the entertainment of children and adults help in conducting bloody battles? It turns out that a lot. First, let's remember how limited our ancestors were in the means of communication. Pigeons, messengers, bonfires, clouds of smoke, huge drums and pipes - these are the advanced communication technologies of those times. The use of light sky lanterns, quickly rising into the air and clearly visible from a distance, perfectly helped the forward detachments to warn the rear of the approach of the enemy, the generals to give various orders, the soldiers to report that help was needed, and so on.
The military also had another purpose for sky lanterns. The fact is that the times were dark, and the enemies of the Chinese people were just as dark and superstitious. Therefore, for a very long time, just launching sky lanterns was enough for Chinese officers to put to flight the enemies of the empire, who were more afraid than the fire of heavenly punishment, signs of which they saw in strange luminous objects.
Soon, lanterns flying into the sky began to be used for purely peaceful purposes. Living in a deep inner world, both high-ranking and ordinary Chinese used sky lanterns as a man-made bridge between the earthly and heavenly worlds. Flying sky lanterns carried away the dreams and desires of thousands of people many, many years ago. So they became one of the obligatory attributes at every holiday. Believing that sky lanterns bring good luck, the Chinese used them at weddings, religious celebrations and other holidays.

Celestial or Chinese?

Sky lanterns are sometimes confused with Chinese traditional Chinese lanterns. The latter became widespread along with Buddhism, since the lighting of hanging paper lanterns was considered a sign of reverence for the Buddha. Chinese lanterns have a fundamental difference from heavenly lanterns in that they simply hang as decorations on the street and indoors. Sky lanterns are of a completely different design and are used to launch into the sky.

How sky lanterns work

The sky lantern is a simplified model of a hot air balloon. The simplicity of its design is due to the disposability of use and low cost. The first Chinese sky lanterns were made from a bamboo frame with a holder for a wax burner, on which a rice paper dome was put on. Modern lanterns are made from more affordable and versatile materials, for example, mulberry paper is used to make the dome.
As we have already said, sky lanterns rise into the air according to the principle of a balloon. The burner fixed from below warms up the air in the dome, which tends to rise up and drags the entire structure along with it. The live fire of the burner not only heats the air for lifting, but also creates a mysterious illumination of a flashlight flying into the sky.
In the manufacture of sky lanterns, only environmentally friendly materials are used. The paper dome, wooden frame and fossil fuel in the burner are quickly disposed of by nature itself and do not pollute the environment.

Some technical characteristics of sky lanterns

The weight of the average flashlight in the assembled state is 200-250 grams. The fuel in the burner is usually enough for 15-20 minutes of flight. When the fuel element burns out, the flashlight slowly lowers to the ground. During its flight, a sky lantern manages to rise to a height of 200 to 500 meters. If the launch is made at night, then the luminous dome of the flashlight is visible for several kilometers. At the same time, hundreds and thousands of people can watch a light flashlight flying into the sky, so they are a universal means of entertainment, along with salutes and fireworks.

Varieties of sky lanterns

The classic form of sky lanterns was the cylinder. In ancient China, such lanterns were the easiest to manufacture, and therefore the cheapest. However, the Chinese have always been masters at creating shows, so they raised triangles, and balls, and even whole paper dragons into the sky.
Modern flashlights are also most often in the form of a cylinder or a “diamond” expanding at the top. Their average height is 1 meter. They are the easiest to manufacture, therefore they are the most inexpensive and popular model. Any images and inscriptions can be applied to the paper from which the dome is made, so sky lanterns are used on the occasion of a variety of celebrations.
Heart-shaped sky lanterns are also popular. They are used at weddings and just on romantic dates.
Lanterns in the form of various animals are made for children. It can be bunnies, cats and other popular and recognizable characters.
For sporting events, for example, lanterns in the shape of a soccer ball can be used. Other types of sky lanterns are also made, for example, in the form of a flying saucer or an alien's head. There is a lot of room for your imagination here.

Some rules of use

Both adults and children can launch sky lanterns, this does not require any special knowledge or permissions. You can do this at any time of the year, regardless of the air temperature. However, you need to know a few simple rules for their use.
- The flight time of a flashlight depends on its mass and size, weather and amount of fuel;
- Sky lanterns should be launched in the absence of strong winds and at a distance from fire hazardous buildings and structures;
- Lanterns are launched at a distance of 1.5 or more km from airports;
- Do not hang additional items on the flashlights;
- When starting the flashlights, it is not allowed to use any other fuel than the one supplied in the factory.

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Sky lanterns: device

Traditionally, a flying flashlight consists of a light frame, often bamboo, and fire-resistant paper. A dry fuel burner is attached to the lower part of the frame, the flame of which heats the air in the dome and creates lift. The burner is made, most often, from cotton fabric impregnated with a flammable liquid or wax (as an option - stearin). In industrial production, burners are often made from combustible polymers. The dome is made of rice paper (with the addition of mulberry wood) impregnated with an anti-combustible compound. The shape of the dome can be different - a cylinder, a ball, a cone, a heart, figures of animals or household items.

Sky lanterns: characteristics

Weighs (on average) a standard size flying flashlight about 100-150 grams. The light weight and the flame of the burner allow it to rise to a height of about 500 meters while the burner is burning (15-20 minutes).

Launching a Sky Lantern: Precautions

Launching flying lanterns is associated with some dangers due to the use of open flames. It should also be noted that sky lanterns can be dangerous for aircraft (when launched near airports). And another possible nuisance is that an accidental fall in the city or near suburban buildings (for example, in windy weather), which can cause a fire.

Please be careful, take care of your health and property!

Sky lanterns are very beautiful and very romantic. Watch videos and photos:

(Festival in Taiwan, Pingxi)

(another video about Pingxi Sky Lantern Festival)

(British video with photos of sky lanterns)