There are many different beliefs about the origin of the Lantern Festival.But one thing for sure is that it had something to do with religious worship.
　　One legend tells us that it was a time to worship Taiyi,the God of Heaven in ancient times.The belief was that the God of Heaven controlled the destiny of the human world.He had sixteen dragons at his beck and call and he decided when to inflict drought,storms,famine or pestilence（瘟疫）upon human beings.Beginning with Qinshihuang,the first emperor to unite the country,all subsequent emperors ordered splendid ceremonies each year.The emperor would ask Taiyi to bring favorable weather and good health to him and his people.Emperor Wudi of the Han Dynasty directed special attention to this event.In 104 BC,he proclaimed it one of the most important celebrations and the ceremony would last throughout the night.
　　Another legend associates the Lantern Festival with Taoism.Tianguan is the Taoist god responsible for good fortune.His birthday falls on the 15th day of the first lunar month.It is said that Tianguan likes all types of entertainment.So followers prepare various kinds of activities during which they pray for good fortune.
　　The third story about the origin of the festival is like this.Buddhism first entered China during the reign of Emperor Mingdi of the Eastern Han Dynasty.That was in the first century.However,it did not exert any great influence among the Chinese people.one day,Emperor Mingdi had a dream about a gold man in his palace.At the very moment when he was about to ask the mysterious figure who he was,the gold man suddenly rose to the sky and disappeared in the west.The next day,Emperor Mingdi sent a scholar to India on a pilgrimage（朝圣）to locate Buddhist scriptures.After journeying thousands of miles,the scholar finally returned with the scriptures.Emperor Mingdi ordered that a temple be built to house a statue of Buddha and serve as a repository for the scriptures.Followers believe that the power of Buddha can dispel darkness.So Emperor Mingdi ordered his subjects to display lighted lanterns during what was to become the Lantern Festival.
　　關于元宵節(jié)的由來有不同的觀點.但是其中一點是確定的,它與宗教信仰有關.
　　一個傳說告訴我們從前的人崇拜古代的天上的神太一.人們相信天上的神主宰者人類的世界.他有16只龍聽命于他,并決定何時讓世界有干旱、風暴、饑荒和瘟疫.從統(tǒng)一六國的秦始皇開始,所有后來的皇帝都下令每年舉行隆重的儀式.皇帝會祈求太一讓人間風調雨順、人們健康.漢武帝讓這個事情更加引人注意.在公元前104年,他宣布元宵節(jié)為最重要的節(jié)日之一,而整個儀式要持續(xù)一夜.
　　另外一個傳說把元宵節(jié)與道教相聯(lián)系.天官是道教掌管好運的神.他的生日是農歷正月十五.據說天官喜歡各種娛樂活動.所以信教的人就準備各種活動并在這個過程中祈求好運.
　　第三個傳說是這樣的.佛教在一世紀東漢漢明帝時傳入中國.然而,在中國人中并未有很大的影響.一天,漢明帝夢見他的宮殿里出現(xiàn)個金人.當他想問那人是誰時,金人卻升到天空,在西方消失了.第二天,明帝就派人到印度去尋找佛教經書.在經過上千里的長途跋涉,他終帶回了經書.漢明帝下令興建廟宇供奉佛和儲藏經書.信眾認為佛能驅除黑暗.所以漢明帝就下令群臣都點起燈籠,后來便演變成了元宵節(jié)