Nowadays, Japanese paper lanterns are used in many ways and in many places. But these days, electric lights are used in most paper lanterns. Thanks to the protection of the washi cover, the candles seldom went out. Originally, a candle was placed inside to provide light. After drying, the bamboo frame is removed from the model. After this, glue is put on the bamboo frame and it is all washi. This work affects whether the paper lantern will be a good one or not, so it needs a skilled hand to do well. The bamboo circles are set to a model and connected with thread. A circle is then made with the bamboo strip, and on which is attached washi, or Japanese handmade paper. A thin strip of bamboo is used as a framework of body. Paper lanterns are actually quite easy to make. The lanterns helped guide their way and suit their new lifestyle. Also, more and more people were able to travel around Japan and go out at night because of the expanding merchant economy. Due to such development, not only people of high rank in society, but also normal everyday people were able to use Japanese paper lanterns easily in their daily lives. The new lanterns also became necessary for soldiers to use during war, so they became more and more popular in Edo period (from 1603 to 1868). These folding lanterns were used in funerals. After a few decades, original folding lanterns based on the Chinese design were created. They were quite different from today’s Japanese lanterns, so clearly people were trying to develop the lanterns in Japanese ways over the years. At that time, paper lanterns came from China and looked like baskets made with bamboos. The first appearance of paper lanterns was during the Muromachi era (from 1336 to 1573). Looking at the history of Japanese paper lanterns allows us to rediscover how the Japanese way of life has changed. In this article, we will explore the history and cultural significance of chouchin. Now, chouchin are used in not only this way, but also other ways. Originally chouchin were used to shine light at people’s feet when they walked on dark street at night. ‘Chou’ means to hang, and ‘chin’ stands for a light. These are all traditional Japanese lanterns, also called chouchin. And at festivals in Japan, you will also see a lot of lanterns hanging in a row. If you walk down a Kyoto street at night, you will almost certainly see some paper lanterns hanging in front of an Izakaya which is Japanese-style bar or ramen restaurant.
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