孔明灯

Went to ECP with Vesuva on Sat nite after dinner at Parkway Parade..Nope..not for blading this time..but went to the beach and emo..haha..then we saw ppl putting up 孔明灯, ys immed bought 3 for us to play..thanx yea!!

History of 天灯 aka 孔明灯

The Chinese named named their invention "孔明灯" after leader of the three kingdom period of China 184AD - 280AD. Surrounded by enemies he watched the wind direction and used these floating balloons to send out signals for help. It is also said the shape of a sky lantern is like the hat Kong Ming wore.

It is also said the shape of a sky lantern is like the hat Kong Ming wore.Sky lanterns were then made of oiled rice paper with a bamboo frame at the bottom containing a small candle.

The principle is simple in that hot air created by the flame inside causes the lantern to rise into the sky glowing brightly. Nowadays the modern products we import use flame proof paper and fuel cells that are designed not to smoulder.

孔明灯又叫天灯，相传是由三国时的诸葛孔明所发明。当年，诸葛孔明被司马懿围困於平阳，无法派兵出城求救。孔明算准风向，制成会飘浮的纸灯笼，系上求救的讯息，其后果然脱险，於是后世就称这种灯笼为孔明灯。另一种说法则是这种灯笼的外形像诸葛孔明戴的帽子，因而得名。

现代人放孔明灯多作为祈福之用。男女老少亲手写下祝福的心愿，象徵丰收成功，幸福年年。

孔明灯的结构可分为主体与支架2部份，主体大都以竹篦编成，次用棉纸或纸糊成灯罩，底部的支架则以竹削成的篦组成。孔明灯可大可小，可圆形也可长方形。一般的孔明灯是用竹片架成圆桶形，外面以薄白纸密密包围而开口朝下。

欲点灯升空时，在底部的支架中间绑上一块沾有煤油或花生油的粗布或金纸，放飞前将油点燃，灯内的火燃烧一阵后产生热空气，孔明灯便膨胀，放手后整个灯会冉冉飞升空，如果天气不错，底部的煤油烧完后孔明灯会自动下降。