The History of Lighting Across Thousands of Years
Six generations of illumination — from the sun and firelight to the LED — and the evolution of lamps in China.
Part I: The Six Generations of Illumination
1st Generation: The Sun
Early humans structured their day around sunlight — sunrise to work, sunset to rest. Sunlight is an inexhaustible source, but at night its brightness disappears, prompting the search for artificial alternatives.
2nd Generation: Firelight
From natural fire to the invention of drilling wood for fire, human lighting began. Bundles of pine resin or fat on bark became the first torches, used to defend against wild animals and drive out darkness.
3rd Generation: Oil Lamp
Burning grease in a container with a wick created the oil lamp, extending human working hours by two to three hours. Oils evolved from animal to vegetable and finally kerosene; covers evolved from paper to glass.
4th Generation: Gas Lamp
Invented in Britain more than a century ago, gas lighting was initially unsafe indoors and mainly served streets and shops. After improvements, it provided the conditions for night markets to flourish — such as the famous 1870s Shanghai night market.
5th Generation: The Electric Lamp Era
At the end of the 19th century, Edison lit the first widely used electric lamp (22 October 1879), rewriting the history of human lighting. Incandescent lamps heat a thin filament until it glows; fluorescent lamps emit a softer light without strong infrared, save power and can produce coloured light through phosphor chemistry.
Incandescent lamp — early electric lighting.
LED — the sixth generation of illumination.
6th Generation: LED Lights
The LED is a solid-state semiconductor device that converts electrical energy into visible light, offering high efficacy, energy savings and long life. From the first red LED in 1969 to blue in 1993 and white in 1999, LEDs became widely adopted by around 2010 — a major step in the green-technology transition.
Part II: The Evolution of Lamps in China
Chinese lamp-making developed in parallel with each dynasty’s culture and craft.
Qin Dynasty
Lamps were cast with a luxurious and refined beauty, as seen in the architecture of the Epang Palace and imperial tombs.
Han Dynasty
A turning point in which ceramic, iron and stone lamps appeared. The Western Han produced the highest achievement — the Changxin Palace Lamp, famous for its smoke-absorbing, light-directing environmental design.
Song to Yuan Dynasty
Lamps became indispensable decoration for celebrations. Emperors rewarded generals with lamps, and lamps were often built into the walls of tombs.
Tang & Song Paintings
Murals frequently depict handmaids holding candlesticks. In the middle and late Tang, early energy-saving lamps were fired at Qiongyao near Chengdu.
Ming & Qing Dynasties
The most brilliant period of Chinese lamp craft. Alongside glass and enamel, silk gauze palace lanterns opened a new world; later, imported kerosene lamps captured Chinese attention.
Modern Era Transition
Electric light first appeared in the Shanghai concession. By 1903–1904, electric light companies were established in Tianjin and Beijing; in 1921, Hu Xiyuan produced the first domestic incandescent lamp.
Post-1949: The Spring of Development
In 1954, Shanghai produced large chandeliers for the Sino-Soviet Friendship Building, a historic step. From 1949 to 1965 the industry grew rapidly, popularising electric lighting in cities; by the 1990s, demand for energy-saving, safe and high-quality products led to the creation of domestic lighting brands that still lead the market today.
