Exhibition of Traditional Lanterns:

Bongeun-sa Temple Buddha's 2549th Birthday Celebration (2005)

 

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The birth of Siddhartha Gautama, the historical Buddha, is one of Korea's biggest festivals. It is a great time to go out and see traditional art, hear music, see performances and visit temples. One big part of the festivities is the lanterns.
Most of the lanterns represent important events in the life of the Buddha. Some express important ideas from Buddhist teachings.
This lantern shows two lizards. The lanterns in this first set are from a display of traditional lanterns held at Bongeun-sa temple.
Here is another view of the lizards.

These traditional lanters are mostly made from mulberry paper. Most frames are made of metal or wire.
This was was called, "Life, the Practice of Awakening."
The year 2005 marks the 2549th birthday of the Buddha. I imagine that next year will be a HUGE bash.
This lantern shows many creatures featured in Korean folk tales.

This smoking tiger is part of a Korean folk tale.
Here is a different view of the smoking tiger. I like his long pipe!
This is the face of another creature from Korean folk tales. It is a Tokkaebi, which is a creature I have read about often. The English on the card called it a "Bugaboo." I guess they thought that was somehow easier for us foreigners to understand. <_<;
Here is another Tokkaebi. The card said this one is proposing a Korean wrestling game. The club he carries can make anything he wants. Most often in stories, they make gold coins appear with it. Silly, human, men in the stories are always trying to steal their clubs so that they can make gold too. Tokkaebi are one legged and usually attack your leg.

A hawk lantern.
There were many smaller lanterns on display as well.
I like how all the lanterns come in different shapes and sizes.
They even had a display of lamps.

Some of these lamps I wouldn't mind taking home.
Everything in this room is lit with electric lights. Traditionally, they are lit with candles.
Compared to the others, that bamboo one is unusual looking.
This one is cute, it's a lady bug at a pond.

Here is a closeup of one shaped like a vase.
This one is celebrating the birth of the Buddha.
This one is some kind of gargoyle. Since it was in the big group of lanterns, it had no individual card explaining it.
A lotus with two Korean children.

I like the fish lanterns.
Here is a lantern shaped like a hand. The hand is showing us the teaching mudra. A lotus is also painted on the hand.
This lantern is showing the "wheel of the law" lesson.
I'm not sure what this one is about, to be honest. It was in the group of smaller lanterns and I didn't see any card.

But it has a neat shape and the painting is interesting.
This lantern is shaped like a drum.
This is the back of a lantern that shows one of the gods who rule over the points of the compass. I could not get photos of the backs of all of these, because they were displayed near a wall. It was a shame. I have pictures of the paintings of the gods a bit further down.
I like this deer lantern. It's really pretty. Deer were supposedly present during the Buddha's first major lecture in the deer park.

This is a three legged raven. The card said it symbolizes a spot on the sun which was thought to be a holy object of worship in the ancient age.
This hunting warrior was based on a painting found in one of the ancient tombs at Gogouryo, which is now part of North Eastern China.
These paintings show the four gods that rule over the points of the compass. Paintings of these gods were found in the tombs at Gogouryo. The lanterns were shaped like the hollowed out inside of a tomb. This white tiger is west.
The blue dragon rules over the east.

The red phoenix, Joujak, rules the south. (The card called it a peacock, but I'm pretty sure they meant phoenix).
The turtle and snake, Hyunmou, rules over the north.
There was also a lantern on the ceiling at the exhibit.
This one is neat beause it is shaped like a candle.

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