Shanghai Lantern Festival:
Lantern making is a tradition in China that dates back centuries. Although the normal Lantern Festival usually takes place during the winter, Shanghai had a special exhibit of them when I visited in September, 1996. The lanterns which come from Sichuan Province, were some of the best I have ever seen. This first lantern is of a happy Buddha with the word for "fortune" over his head.
Another lantern made to look like a palace.
A third lantern of Guanyin, the Chinese Goddess of Mercy (觀音菩薩). Guanyin is a manifestation of the Boddisatva Avalokitsvara for Buddhism fans. Oh yes, the dragons spit water at unwary passersby!
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Pictures: Eric Trachtenberg
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