The lantern craftsmen in Zigong are renowned worldwide for their unique lantern making techniques, and they are known as the "artists who light up the city". Zigong City is located in the central part of Sichuan Province and is renowned throughout the country as the "Southern Lantern City". It is the birthplace of Zigong Lantern Festival, one of the four major lantern festivals in China. The lofty status of lantern craftsmanship not only stems from its brilliant colors and rich cultural connotations, but also from the hard work and selfless dedication of the craftsmen who silently contribute behind it. This article will explore in detail the professional experience, hardships, and achievements of lantern craftsmen, in order to demonstrate their important role and contribution in lighting up cities.

Lantern production workshop

The origin and development of lantern craftsmanship

Zigong's lantern craftsmanship has a long history. As early as the end of the Qing Dynasty, the Zigong region began to produce colorful lanterns, which were not only used for festivals, but also commonly used in temple fairs and weddings. Over time, this technique has continuously evolved, gradually forming Zigong colored lanterns with local characteristics. Since the 1980s, the excellent lantern making technology in Zigong has been spreading throughout the country, gradually developing into an art form with international influence that can better showcase China's unique folk culture.

The Hardship and Effort of Lantern Craftsmen

Although the lantern craftsmanship may seem magnificent and colorful, it is the hard work and sweat of the craftsmen behind it. Making a beautiful lantern not only requires superb skills, but also a lot of time and energy. The production process of colored lights usually includes multiple stages such as design, lamp frame production, decoration, and debugging, each of which is crucial.

1. Hardship of professional experience

Taking Master Li as an example, he is a craftsman who has been engaged in lantern craftsmanship for many years in Da'an District, Zigong City. Master Li entered the lantern making industry in Zigong from a young age. At first, he was just an ordinary apprentice, learning basic lantern making techniques from morning till night every day. After years of hard work, he gradually mastered the complex technique of creating three-dimensional shapes for colored lights. Master Li recalled the days when he often worked during the day and had to work overtime until late at night. When making large colored lanterns for lantern festivals, it is often necessary to work in the cold wind, and sometimes even endure months of hardship and lack of sleep.

2. Challenges during the production process

In the process of making colored lights, craftsmen face challenges not only from technical difficulties, but also from external environmental constraints. For example, the design of colored lights usually needs to be changed according to different festivals and themes, and each design requires strict review and repeated modifications. In terms of material selection, lantern craftsmen need to consider various factors such as durability, color effects, and the safety of the lighting fixtures. Every step is full of challenges, but it is these challenges that drive craftsmen to constantly innovate and improve their craftsmanship.

Excellent Zigong lantern craftsmen

The Achievements and Social Evaluation of Lantern Technology

Despite facing many difficulties, the lantern craftsmen in Zigong have still achieved significant results. These achievements are not only reflected in the quantity and quality of the lantern works, but also in the social evaluation and influence they have achieved.

1. The brilliance of colored light works

Zigong lantern works have won praise from domestic and foreign audiences for their exquisite craftsmanship and spectacular effects. The annual Zigong Lantern Festival attracts a large number of tourists to come and watch. The colorful lantern works of these festivals not only showcase the craftsmanship level of Zigong, but also demonstrate the charm of traditional Chinese culture. For example, at the Zigong Lantern Festival in 2024, the team led by Master Li produced a large set of colorful lanterns with the theme of traditional Chinese festivals. The works were not only warmly welcomed by the audience, but also received unanimous praise from the judges. Through these works, Zigong's lantern craftsmanship has gained widespread recognition and praise.

2. High social evaluation

Zigong's lantern craftsmanship has not only achieved remarkable results in the art world, but also received high praise in society. Many experts and scholars believe that Zigong lantern craftsmanship is not only the inheritance of traditional craftsmanship, but also a reflection of local culture. The recognition of national intangible cultural heritage is also a recognition of the hard work of Zigong lantern craftsmen. Many lantern craftsmen have also received various honorary titles and awards as a result, which not only enhances their personal professional status, but also injects more impetus into the development of Zigong lantern craftsmanship.

Zigong Lantern Master's Construction Operation

Vivid explanation of personal employment cases

In order to better showcase the professional experience and social evaluation of Zigong lantern craftsmen, we may explore several real cases to gain a deeper understanding.

Master Li's Path to Success

Master Li's work experience is undoubtedly a microcosm of Zigong lantern craftsmanship. He grew from an apprentice to a skilled lantern craftsman, not only making breakthroughs in technology, but also constantly innovating in artistic creation. Master Li's team has won numerous awards at lantern festivals both domestically and internationally, earning him the title of "Zigong Lantern Star". These achievements cannot be achieved without the hard work of him and his team, which also proves the excellent level of Zigong lantern craftsmanship.

2. Master Wang's innovative practice

Master Wang is another craftsman who has achieved remarkable results in the field of lantern craftsmanship. He is not only skilled in traditional lantern making, but also actively experimenting with the application of new materials and technologies. Through continuous research and innovation of lantern materials, Master Wang has successfully introduced environmentally friendly materials and some characteristic materials into lantern production, resulting in longer service life and higher energy efficiency of lanterns. Master Wang's innovations not only improved the quality of the lanterns, but also promoted the modernization process of lantern craftsmanship.

The brilliant achievements of Zigong lantern craftsmanship cannot be separated from the efforts of those hardworking craftsmen. They use their exquisite skills and endless creativity to light up the night sky of the city and also illuminate people's hearts. Zigong's lantern craftsmanship is not only a traditional art, but also an important carrier of cultural inheritance and innovative development. The arduous efforts and outstanding achievements of the lantern craftsmen make them worthy of the honorary title of "artists who light up the city".