Festival: Signature Events: Lantern Festival: Lantern Event Info:
History
In most instances, US knowledge of China begins with “Gunboat Diplomacy” of the 18th century and ends at Chairman Mao’s death. Since China’s “Opening up to the Outside world” in 1979, Chinese history remains unwritten and ever changing. The Chinese knowledge of history starts over 5,000 years ago and their nation’s history begins over 2,200 years ago. Today, China considers the last 200 years simply as the “Years of Bad Karma” that followed the border closings of 1438. For 400 years China had internal and external peace.
The rest of the world knows Chinese history through Chinese explorations, settlements and gifts; from the murals, and, written and spoken records of long time inhabitants. Inarguably, for much of human history, China was the world’s most powerful, wealthiest, and knowledgeable nation. It peaked in influence and power by producing almost 40% of the world’s wealth in goods and services. Its inventions and contributions to civilization were the envy of the world, a position China currently seeks to recapture.
China’s assets have always been its people, philosophical influences, and leadership. China’s people, always numerous, have been willing to travel anywhere life can has the capacity of improve. It has supplied builders of massive civil projects for many centuries. The world, with or without slaves, has requested from China human labor Throughout the “Cold War” China maintained is position of labor supplier and builder in Africa, South America, and, Asia. For the first time in its history it supplied soldiers, to North Korea.
Philosophically, China relies upon the words of Lao Tzu, Confucius, and Buddha. From Lao Tzu, one learns the relative order of all actions from the start to finish. All actions have consequences, immutable and unchangeable. Confucius teaches the structures of behavior and organization to advance the nation. From Confucius one learns that education (self improved), competition, and obedience necessary for being a worthy citizen. Buddha teaches that impermanence and suffering inherit the living, and, having the right thoughts releases the pain of suffering.
First Emperor Qin Shinqiang, not only unified warring nations into the entity known today as China, he organized a central government bureaucracy that continues unchanged after 2,200 years. China’s leadership, central authority, and people my change, but, its bureaucracy will remain unchanged. Not only does China have the oldest known government organization, its national boundaries are also among the oldest of any nation. Lantern Festivals were also started by First Emperor Qin in 206 BC. The country has major festivals throughout its boundaries. Semi-annual Lantern Festivals continues supporting a common body of knowledge for citizen enjoyment and education. First Emperor Qin is best known, in the West, for his burial with 8,000 terra cotta soldier army, arms, horses, chariots, food, and, wealth.
Everywhere there are Asians, Lanterns exist. Lanterns express a need, desire, existence, feeling, and story for the individual, family, friends, affiliation, work, association, location, and nation. It is most important in telling a story of good relationship, good behavior, respect, and the want or existence of goodness in all its forms, i.e., Good Luck, Good Relations, Good Fortune, and Good Health. Quintessentially, Lanterns are Happiness personified.
Following 190 years of efforts at bringing lantern culture to foreign lands, Asian immigrants have attempted duplications of Lantern Festivals globally. None of these attempts compare to the authentic Lantern Festivals in size, scope or quality.
Following four years in formation and negotiation, members of the World Trade Center Atlanta have successfully brought a real Chinese Lantern Festival to America. Members of the China Business Alliance, with the patience, commitment, wherewithal, and, the unique solution required for success. Many members continued with their lives, leaving the actual process to continue with a few, totally committed and understanding persons. They understood the need of America to host a real Chinese Lantern Festival.
In March, 2005, a team member introduced the Lantern Festival to the current team to shorten the time to market. Following the election of the Chairman, the group initiated a thorough study of conditions necessary for a successful Festival. The study concluded that the initial time was too short to produce the image or success demanded by the government. The study also found substantial and deep conflicts of interest among several team members.
The Atlanta Chinese Lantern Festival Committee formed in April, 2005 and begin work on the necessary requirements to attract the Lantern Festival to Atlanta. Because open discussions were needed and conflict of interest free goals were also necessary, several member declined to participate.
Through understanding the importance and significance of the Atlanta Chinese Lantern Festival, the Committee decided to continue with its attempts to bring the Festival to the US. The team continued its actions on planning, organizing, and reaching agreement with PR China.
Success was reached on 9 March 2009 at the Zigong Museum in Sichuan Province. Other organizations involved in planning are the World Trade Center Atlanta (WTCA), Atlanta Parks Department, Minister of Culture and Treasures of the Central Government, the State of Georgia, City of Atlanta, and, the Atlanta Regional Council among others. The World Trade Center and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry in PR China, a quasi private organization, also provided information conducive to reaching Lantern Festival approval status.
Zigong museum has trained craftsmen and construct lanterns for more than 700 years. It’s a provincial government entity controlled by the Central Government as related to artistic treasures. The State of Georgia has established Georgia Tourism and Trade Office in Beijing, PR China.
