A Chinese dragon adorns a bronze lock on iron gates painted red in San Francisco's Chinatown.
A 1920s decorative building in Chinatown.
Red lanterns are strung between buildings and across streets in Chinatown.
Three flags fly at the top of this building and a bird flies nearby.
Red lanterns and a banner strung across Grant Street.
Even the street lights in San Francisco's Chinatown resemble lanterns.
Strings of lanterns extend the length of the building housing the Peking Bazaar.
Lanterns adorn this building on a side street.
I wonder if this monastery's placement over a bank is considered lucky.
These lanterns incorporate the lotus flower. Chinese botanists once believed that the lotus flowered and bore fruit at the same time, symbolizing the ability to transcend time. The lotus remains a popular symbol in Chinese folk custom. Pictures showing fat dancing babies holding lotus leaves or flowers are purchased in the hope that several boys will be born in succession (the Chinese word for lotus sounds the same as a word meaning "one after another"). Since lotus leaves in pond water protect the goldfish under them, the lotus also symbolizes abundance.
P.S. Was disturbed to read this story. In George Bush's America, teachers need to carry guns in schools? That opens up so many possible scenarios - none of them good - that the mind boggles.
Lots o' lanterns! I think you found every one! (And I would know.) That was very interesting to learn about the story of the lotus, too.
Almost every day in SF Gate there is an article about someone being killed by a gun. I don't know how the papers read in other parts of the country, but I can't imagine it's much better.
Posted by: tangobaby | 18 August 2008 at 18:19
I love all those colors; and the red of those lanterns are divine, especially the ones against that regal blue sky. Gorgeous! Love the building with the flags and how you captured that bird perfectly. xo
Posted by: Rosa | 17 August 2008 at 21:34
Ah!!!!! How beautiful. Thanks so much Tara.
Posted by: Kay Cooke | 17 August 2008 at 06:13
Oh Tara, love, love, love the images of both China and Chinatown. The colors are so striking and the contrast in the photos from China is so amazing. It's almost like there is no transition from old to new, just layered on top of each other trying to survive separately.
And personally just about everything about GW's philosophy about education, okay really everything, scares me. He has just about ruined the entire education system with some help from his friends. But guns for teachers? Yikes! Leau
Posted by: Leau | 16 August 2008 at 15:31
Hope this note finds you well Tara!
Very nice photos of Chinese lanterns. Thank you for sharing these photographs. A world without lanterns would be a sad world.
Give me lanterns ~ Lot's and lot's of lanterns swaying in the breeze during the day or night.
xox
Constance
ps
Who need guns?
Why?
People need more lanterns in their life!!!
Posted by: rochambeau | 16 August 2008 at 14:53
How I love these lantern photos! Beautiful and uplifting, somehow.
Posted by: Laura | 16 August 2008 at 12:11