China Color Lantern Museum in Zigong

China Color Lantern Museum in Zigong

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The China Color Lantern Museum (中国彩灯博物馆), located at 6 Gongyuan Road (公园路6号), Ziliujing District (自流井区), Zigong City (自贡市), Sichuan Province (四川省), is a specialized national museum dedicated to the culture of lanterns. Covering an area of 22,000 square meters and with a building area of 6,375 square meters, the museum is situated in a park of 10.3 hectares. It is a national second-level museum (国家二级博物馆) and a AAA-level tourist attraction (国家AAA级旅游景区), as well as a major site within the Zigong World Geopark (自贡世界地质公园).

Established in 1992, the China Color Lantern Museum is recognized as a key institution for the collection, preservation, research, and exhibition of China’s lantern culture. It is also an important educational base for the youth in Sichuan Province, as well as a center for promoting patriotic education in Zigong City.

As of 2022, the museum holds 4,032 pieces in its collection, and attracts over 134,000 visitors annually.

History

1988: The idea of establishing the China Color Lantern Museum was first discussed in a meeting hosted by Mayor Lu Qiang (陆强市长) and Vice Mayor Zhang Wenzhao (张文照副市长) in Zigong City government’s conference room.

1990: Construction of the museum officially began in June.

1991: The museum was completed in August.

1992: The museum was officially named and approved by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage (国家文物局).

1994: On February 1, the museum opened its doors to the public in conjunction with the Fourth Zigong International Dinosaur Lantern Festival (第四届自贡国际恐龙灯会). The museum’s name was inscribed by Zhu Muzhi (朱穆之), former Deputy Minister of the Propaganda Department of the CPC, and the commemorative plaque was written by calligrapher Liu Qian (柳倩).

2001: The Zigong Lantern Park Management Office (自贡彩灯公园管理处) merged with the museum, becoming a county-level institution.

2004: Due to its influence on China’s lantern culture, the museum was named a National Cultural Industry Demonstration Base (国家文化产业示范基地) by the Ministry of Culture.

2007-2008: The museum underwent major renovations, including updates to its exhibits and park infrastructure, which were completed in January 2008.

2014: The museum was reclassified as a public institution and fully funded by the government.

2019: The Park Management Office was renamed the Park Management Center.

2022: The museum opened its doors to the public free of charge.

2023: In preparation for the New Year, the museum began a comprehensive improvement project, upgrading infrastructure and facilities.

Museum Features

Exhibits

The museum is home to an extensive collection of traditional Chinese lanterns (中国彩灯), showcasing the craftsmanship and cultural heritage of Zigong (自贡). The exhibits offer visitors the chance to experience the history, artistry, and traditions behind one of China’s most iconic cultural forms. The lanterns are intricately designed with vivid colors, and the museum highlights the regional styles that have made Zigong Lanterns (自贡灯会) famous.

Special Events

The museum has held several lantern festivals and exhibitions both locally and internationally, including:

Canada’s Ontario (安大略省), where the museum organized the China Lantern Festival (中国彩灯节) from 2006 to 2008.

Lantern Culture and Craftsmanship

The museum is the sole institution for the preservation and transmission of Zigong Lantern-making (自贡彩灯传统制作技艺), which has been recognized as a provincial-level intangible cultural heritage (省级非遗). As a pivotal part of Zigong’s (自贡市) cultural identity, these lanterns are celebrated for their exquisite craftsmanship and vibrant displays, particularly during the annual Zigong Lantern Festival (自贡灯会), one of the largest and most famous lantern festivals in China.

Museum Layout

The museum is divided into several key areas, with eight exhibition halls. These include:

The Introduction Hall (序厅)

The History of Chinese Lanterns Hall (中国彩灯历史厅)

Chinese and Foreign Lanterns Culture Hall (中外彩灯风情厅)

Zigong Lanterns Showcase (自贡彩灯精品厅)

These sections cover a variety of exhibits ranging from ancient pottery used for lighting to large modern lantern displays, showcasing materials such as paper, silk, satins, glass bottles, porcelain, and silkworm cocoons. Lanterns depicting various Chinese cities, including Suzhou (苏州), Hangzhou (杭州), Guangdong (广东), Beijing (北京), and Nanjing (南京), as well as international representations from countries like Japan (日本), Singapore (新加坡), South Korea (韩国), USA (美国), and France (法国), are prominently featured.

Key Exhibits

Introduction Hall (序厅)

The hall is composed of:

Colorful Fountain “Lotus Pond at Moonlight” (荷池月夜)

Lantern Wall “Chinese Lantern Rhythms” (华夏灯韵)

Relief Mural “Lighting the Tang Dynasty” (盛唐欢灯图)

Two sets of Wooden Sculptures “Spring Melody” (春之曲) and “Endless Universe” (天地悠悠).

The Lantern Wall “Chinese Lantern Rhythms” integrates murals, sculptures, and modern lantern-making techniques. The relief copper dragon symbolizes the enduring legacy of Chinese lanterns. Historically, lantern festivals were held during prosperous times, such as the Western Han Dynasty (西汉), and reached their peak during the Tang Dynasty (唐宗), a period when they flourished in both artistic and cultural significance.

History of Chinese Lanterns Hall (中国彩灯历史厅)

This hall features 100 valuable artifacts and documents, detailing the evolution of lanterns from early lighting devices to elaborate lantern festivals. Notable items include the Changxin Palace Lantern (长信宫灯), Wild Goose Foot Lantern (雁足灯), and Rhino Lantern (蜀地犀牛灯), among other rare artifacts.

Chinese and Foreign Lanterns Culture Hall (中外彩灯风情厅)

This section includes:

Domestic Lanterns from cities like Suzhou (苏州), Wenzhou (温州), Nanjing (南京), and Foshan (佛山)

International Lanterns from countries including Japan (日本), Singapore (新加坡), United States (美国), and France (法国)
The hall also displays ice lanterns from Harbin (哈尔滨) and the Yellow River Nine Curves Dragon Lantern (黄河九曲龙灯) from the Central Plains (中原).

Zigong Lanterns Showcase (自贡彩灯精品厅)

This section displays award-winning lanterns from Zigong Lantern Festival (自贡灯会), featuring sophisticated craftsmanship and materials, such as:

“Lotus Fairy” Water Lantern (荷花仙子)

“Dragon and Phoenix Presenting Auspiciousness” Lantern (龙凤呈祥)

“Peacock Screen” Lantern (孔雀工屏)

These lanterns represent the innovation in digital control technology, traditional ceramic materials, and silkworm cocoon crafting.

Architectural Features

The architecture of the museum is a palace lantern-themed structure. Its design uses geometric shapes arranged in layers, with large palace lantern-shaped windows and wall-mounted round and angular lantern windows. The building’s white walls and red aluminum windows with blue-tinted glass create a striking contrast, evoking elegance and refinement. The museum’s multi-tiered design incorporates the slope of the land, offering a dynamic, layered effect.

Collections

The museum has a rich collection centered around Chinese lantern culture, national-level intangible cultural heritage, and the unique history and craftsmanship of Zigong Lanterns (自贡彩灯). As of 2021, the museum houses 3,885 items in its collection, including important pieces like the Beijing Palace Lantern (北京宫灯) and the Foshan Bamboo Core Lantern (佛山竹芯灯).

Notable Artifacts

Beijing Palace Lantern (北京宫灯): A 45 cm diameter, 95 cm height lantern, famous for its complex craftsmanship, originally used in the imperial court.

Chaozhou Flower Lantern (潮州花灯): A 40 cm diameter, 80 cm height lantern, made from silk, satin, and embroidery.

Suzhou Phoenix Boat Lantern (凤舟灯): A 1.1 m × 0.35 m × 0.85 m lantern, known for its delicate craftsmanship and historical significance.

Qinhuai Lotus Lantern (荷花灯): A 1 m diameter, 0.8 m height lantern, featuring 62 steps in its creation, representing the process of making a lotus flower.

Six-Cornered Needlework Palace Lantern (六角针刺宫灯): A 45 cm diameter, 75 cm height lantern known for its intricate needlework, requiring millions of needle punctures to create a masterpiece.

Conservation Efforts

The museum has a dedicated Safety Department to ensure the security and maintenance of its exhibits. In February 2019, the museum conducted a large-scale cleaning and maintenance operation to preserve its exhibitions. The Lantern Festival (灯会) and Cultural Exhibitions (文化展示) are also continuously updated to engage the public and preserve Zigong Lantern Craftsmanship (自贡彩灯技艺).

Cultural Activities

2021 – Memorial Exhibition for Xiong Wendong (熊文栋)

In April 2021, to commemorate the first anniversary of the passing of Xiong Wendong (熊文栋), the China Color Lantern Museum (中国彩灯博物馆) collaborated with various local organizations including Zigong Cultural Center (自贡市文化馆), Zigong National Painting Academy (自贡市国画院), and the Zigong Lantern Industry Chamber of Commerce (自贡市彩灯行业商会) to host an art exhibition showcasing his works.

2023 – Public Welfare and Cultural Activities

On September 29, 2023, the China Color Lantern Museum launched the public welfare event “Love and Benefit All” (‘爱’‘益’满人间), aimed at supporting children. About 50 children participated in a guided tour of the museum.

In December 2023, the museum held an online exhibition titled “Lanterns and Customs in the 24 Solar Terms” (24节气里的灯会民俗网络展), which explored the traditions surrounding lanterns during the Winter Solstice (冬至), Minor Cold (小寒), and Major Cold (大寒).

On January 1, 2024, the museum planned to host two interactive events: “Admire the Beauty of Lanterns, Paint Lanterns with Innocence” (窥彩灯之美绘童真花灯) and “Make a Lantern to Take Home” (做个灯笼带回家), offering a variety of fun activities such as riddles, lantern painting, and crafts like making rabbit and star-shaped lanterns.

Ongoing Cultural Engagements

On December 29, 2023, the museum held the “New Year’s Lanterns in Schools” (新年心灯馆企进校) event at Lian Tan Central Primary School (沿滩区联络镇中心小学).

In February 2024, the museum’s “Mobile Museum” (流动博物馆) program visited Tangjiayan Community (唐家岩社区) in Da’an District (大安区), offering a hands-on experience of lantern making and the preservation of intangible cultural heritage.

On May 16, 2024, the China Color Lantern Museum will host the “5·18 International Museum Day” (5·18国际博物馆日) celebration, marking the main event in Zigong (自贡).

Future Events

The museum is planning to open the exhibition “Sichuan Lanterns and Shushu Rhythms” (川灯·蜀韵——岁时风物展) on January 1, 2025, highlighting the rich culture of Sichuan Lanterns (川灯) through the changing seasons.

Academic Research and Publications

The China Color Lantern Museum publishes the journal “China Lantern” (中国彩灯) and has an academic committee dedicated to research on lantern culture.

Notable Publications

“China Lantern” (中国彩灯), published in May 2020, edited by Dai Yanling (戴燕灵).

“Zigong Sky Lantern Festival Folk Customs” (自贡天灯会民俗考), published in November 2022 by Dai Yanling (戴燕灵), Zhong Xuehui (钟学惠), Deng Jun (邓军), and Huang Dengtai (黄德泰).

Collaborative Exhibitions and Academic Partnerships

In July 2022, the China Color Lantern Museum cooperated with the Zhoukoudian Peking Man Site Museum (周口店遗址博物馆) in Beijing, borrowing evidence of Peking Man’s (北京人) use of fire.

Cultural Exchange

From March 15 to 17, 2023, over 200 representatives from various cities and ethnic groups across Sichuan Province (四川省) visited Zigong (自贡), engaging in cultural exchanges and exploring the city’s flourishing night tourism and creative cultural industries.

Key Institutional Activities

2023 – Lantern Culture and Education

In 2023, the museum organized nearly 200 cultural and educational activities under the banner of the “Lantern Journey: Customs in the 24 Solar Terms” (中灯博之旅·二十四节气里的灯会民俗), engaging over 15,000 participants. These included tours, handcraft sessions, and lectures on Chinese lantern culture (彩灯文化).

At the 2023 World Heritage Conservation and Utilization Expo (2023世界文物古迹保护与利用博览会), held from November 23 to 25 in Chengdu (成都), the museum showcased its achievements in the protection of cultural heritage and creative lantern design.

Institutional Structure

The China Color Lantern Museum is a government-funded institution. It operates with a staff of 64 employees, with a leadership structure consisting of:

1 Director (正县级)

3 Deputy Directors (副县级)

17 Mid-level Leaders including 7 department heads (正科级) and 10 deputy department heads (副科级).