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Beijing Winter Olympics Torch Lantern Inspired by China's "First Lamp"

Beijing Winter Olympics Torch Lantern Inspired by China's "First Lamp"

The Beijing Winter Olympics Torch Lantern (left) and Changxing Palace Lantern (right) discovered in Hebei Province in 1968

The designers of the Beijing Winter Olympics torch lantern recently discussed their design, inspired by a bronze lantern from the Western Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 25 AD), demonstrates the ancient Chinese ingenuity of combining aesthetics and practicality. one.

The Olympic flame lantern is based on the Changxin Palace lantern, a bronze relic unearthed from the Douwan Tomb in Mancheng County, Hebei Province in 1968.

The design project was launched in September 2020, and the designers drew inspiration from cultural connotations. Changxin Palace Lantern, because "Changxin" means "firm faith" in Chinese.

“Mentioning these ancient relics or iconic symbols, such as clouds, is a way of conveying traditional Chinese values, such as kindness and integrity. When people see this design, they will know that it was created in China and not only Only because the inscription says so, but because of the national belief it is attached to," Li Mingyu, a cultural symbolist, told the Global Times.

The original ancient lamps were cleverly designed to keep the light burning in the middle of a plate surrounded by a circular bronze wall that could slide approximately 360 degrees to focus the light where it was needed.

This inspired the design team to keep the light in by using a more modern material - transparent double glazing - to design the surrounding shadows so that one can see the flame of "hope".

Transparent double glazing also solves a practical problem. A diversion channel is formed between the inner and outer glass covers to reduce the influence of wind on the flame and ensure that the flame will not be extinguished.

The Olympic flame lantern also uses the warm and inspiring "China Red" color, which is also used in the torch design of the Beijing Winter Olympics.

The original Changxin Palace Lantern is known as "China's No. 1 Lantern". It was in the shape of a bridesmaid kneeling on the ground with a lantern. Her right sleeve is attached to the top of the lantern and serves as a chimney, allowing the smoke from the flames to flow directly into the body of the maid statue without spreading throughout the room.