The Zhudeng珠灯 or Zhuduandeng珠簖灯 (Pearl Lantern) is a finely crafted art piece made by traditional artisans. The one preserved in the temple is said to date back to the Qing Dynasty during Emperor Kangxi’s reign (1662-1722), making it over 300 years old. It was restored in 1924 (the Jiazi year of the Republic of China era).
The lantern is a hexagonal structure, standing over 4 meters tall with a circumference of 12.5 meters, weighing more than 500 kilograms. It has three tiers, each with six main lanterns in different designs, decorated with lattice panels, beaded tassels (featuring Liu Hai gold coin pattern刘海金钱纹珠), ribbons, and more.
In total, it consists of over 400 pieces of handcrafted, multicolored glass beads (said to be imported from Southeast Asia) strung together. At the center is a large round Zhuduan珠簖, about 2 meters in diameter, densely woven like fabric and embroidered with six panels of seasonal flowers.
photo by 旧na样，白白桃酥达
Video of restored Chinese Pearl Lantern taken on-site (though it’s much smaller than the one depicted in the paintings), and Pearl Lanterns handmade by Hanfu enthusiasts. They said the process was incredibly tedious and they’re never making another in this lifetime.
