12" Glowing Purple Lantern

In China, as in many places around the world, purple was long considered an imperial color. It reflected spiritual awareness and strength. Purple was associated with Polaris, the North Star, where the Chinese believed the Celestial Emperor, ruler of the heavens, lived in a great palace with his entire court. The Celestial Emperor, according to legend, maintained harmony on earth and heaven. He was responsible for the universe continuing as it was, and governments on earth only lasted as long as they maintained the harmony that the Celestial Emperor decreed. If human rulers acted badly and unjustly, they were said to have "lost the mandate of Heaven," and their governments would fall. Because of the association between purple and the Celestial Emperor, the palace of the Chinese emperors in Beijing was called the "purple Forbidden City," and only the emperor and his court were allowed to enter. To show this, all the walls in the Forbidden City were painted purple, and only the emperor was allowed to use purple ink. In 1911, the last Emperor of China lost the "mandate of heaven," was overthrown, and a new republic was declared. Enjoy the imperial color this summer and let some of our beautiful and textural paper lanterns light up your next special occasion. They are the perfect accent for both inside and outside decorating, and will add a romantic touch to your motif.