Chinese Lantern Tattoo Meaning: Reasons to Reconsider

Everyone knows that red lanterns are considered auspicious in China.

However, there’s quite a debate going on about the styles of lanterns these days.

So, should you get a lantern tattoo?

Keep reading to find out!

What Does Lantern Tattoo Mean?

In modern China, when we talk about lanterns, we’re usually talking about celebrating something. They could be Spring Festival, Lantern Festival, weddings, and more.

We typically go for warm colors, especially red and yellow. 

There’s this idiom, 张灯结彩 (Zhāng dēng jiécǎi), which best captures the vibe lanterns create:

• 张 (Zhāng): Hanging.
• 灯 (Dēng): Lantern, lights.
• 结 (Jié): Connecting.
• 彩 (Cǎi): Colorful, also referring to colored lights and ribbons.

This idiom paints a picture of scenes filled with colorful lanterns and ribbons everywhere. 

It’s commonly used to describe the lively, splendid atmosphere during celebrations.

But lanterns aren’t always associated with positive things.

Back in ancient China, white lanterns hung at the door, which meant someone passed away.

So, never jump to the conclusion that all lanterns carry positive meanings.

Lantern Style Controversy

This controversy has arisen in recent years, and it’s all about lanterns – the Chinese style vs. the Japanese style.

• Chinese lanterns – crisscross or vertical frames with vibrant, warm colors. 
• Japanese lanterns – dense horizontal frames with simple white hues.

Many of our local shops have now ditched the classic Chinese lanterns for the easier-to-ship Japanese ones. 

But most of them don’t really know lantern styles, so they’re out there selling these lanterns, claiming they’re “Chinese-style.”

And as this mix-up becomes a regular thing in our lives, it’s stirring up some opinions.

-Most folks think that even though Japanese lanterns might have some ancient Chinese roots, they’ve taken on their own modern flair. So, we should totally tell them apart.

-But then, there’s this other crew saying Japanese lanterns are basically the offspring of Chinese lanterns. So, they’re all under the big umbrella of Chinese lanterns; no need to split hairs.

Truth be told, this question is still up in the air without a clear answer.

Should You Get a Lantern Tattoo?

In my opinion, going for a lantern tattoo may not be the best idea.

Firstly, lanterns come in all sorts of colors and shapes, each with its own meaning. And to add a twist, Chinese culture has its regional quirks, and there’s no one-size-fits-all meaning for lanterns. You might end up with a tattoo that’s hard to explain.

Secondly, the design of lanterns is still up for debate. Your tattoo artist might not be the expert on this, which could lead to confusion. If you don’t want to be the lantern ambassador all the time, pick a different tattoo.

Lastly, lanterns have a whole cultural backstory that’s pretty complex. It’s not a simple one-liner kind of deal. Even most Chinese people wouldn’t choose it as a tattoo.

Final Thoughts

So, some lanterns seem incredible, but let’s not ignore the trouble they bring.

To dodge any confusion or touchy situations, what is my advice? Skip the lantern tattoo.