The development history of lamps

1、 Bronze lighting fixtures

If we want to trace the evolution history of lamps, we can trace it back to the Warring States period. Through archaeological research, it has been discovered that copper lamps existed during that period. Bronze ware culture was very popular in that era, and many copper lamps were found in archaeological excavations, but generally only the upper class could use them.

2、 Ceramic lighting fixtures

With the development of time, during the Qin and Han dynasties, there were many pottery pieces, which gave rise to some copper lamps. Moreover, from the perspective of production technology, they were more beautiful and had very beautiful shapes.

3、 Han Dynasty lighting fixtures

In the Wei, Jin, Southern and Northern Dynasties period, lighting fixtures became increasingly popular, with many shapes, such as combining the shapes of characters or animals, and were produced on a large scale. Lighting fixtures could not only be used for lighting, but were also essential items for weddings or ceremonies.

4、 Porcelain lighting fixtures

In the Sui and Tang dynasties, which were also the most prosperous period of China’s development, there was another porcelain, which led to the emergence of many ceramic lamps, which developed rapidly.

5、 Candle lighting fixtures

In the Song and Yuan dynasties, from some archaeological excavations of tombs, it can be seen that the decorative art of lamps was more beautiful, with various styles and increasingly advanced firing techniques.

6、 Metal lighting fixtures

The Ming and Qing dynasties were also the most glorious period for the development of Chinese lighting fixtures, with rapid progress not only in materials but also in their styles, such as some metal fixtures or flange fixtures.

7、 Modern lighting fixtures

If we talk about modern lighting fixtures, they are even more diverse because they have already been electrified, and many lights are illuminated by electricity. The technology is more advanced, and it has also introduced many smart lights, making them more modern.

1. Lamps were used in the Qin Dynasty. In the Qin Dynasty, lighting fixtures were crafted to be luxurious and beautiful. We can experience the luxury of lighting fixtures from a series of ancient buildings such as the Afang Palace and the Imperial Mausoleum in our elementary, middle, and high school textbooks. There are also some cultural relics unearthed from the Qin Dynasty, and the various lamps displayed in museums are the most authentic examples.

2. Lighting fixtures were a very important period in the development history of lighting fixtures during the Han Dynasty, and also a turning point in the development history of lighting fixtures. The main reasons come from innovation and development. During the Han Dynasty, bronze lamps continued to be popular, while ceramic lamps became a new trend and became the mainstream of the lighting market. In addition, iron lamps and stone lamps also appeared in the market. In the history of lighting fixtures in our country, the most accomplished lamp also appeared in the Western Han Dynasty. This type of lamp is a bronze lamp designed for use by palace nobles. Above the flame of the lamp, there is a smoke hood connected to a pipe. The smoke from the lamp can be discharged into the water storage lamp body through the hood and pipe, achieving the environmental effect of “extracting light and hiding smoke”. The most famous among them is the “Changxin Palace Lantern” unearthed in Hebei Province.

3. During the period from the Northern and Southern Song to the Song and Yuan dynasties, lighting fixtures played a significant role in rituals and celebrations, becoming an indispensable decorative and functional product in various activities. In the palace, the emperor often rewarded generals and other officers with silver, belts, and lamps to celebrate their triumph. Moreover, in some brick tombs of the Song and Yuan dynasties, it is common to see lamp supports built on the walls of the tombs.

4. During the Tang and Song painting periods, collectors often found that in murals, there were often scenes of maidservants holding candle holders or candle holders lighting candles. In addition, energy-saving oil lamps emerged in the Tang Dynasty. In the middle and late Tang Dynasty, the oil lamps fired in Qiong Kiln near Chengdu, Sichuan were truly energy-saving lamps.

5. Lighting fixtures were the closest to us in the Ming and Qing dynasties, and also the most glorious period of ancient Chinese lighting development. The most prominent feature is that the texture and variety of lighting fixtures and candle holders are more diverse and colorful. In addition to lamps made of materials such as glass and enamel, palace lamps made of silk have also emerged. The rise of palace lanterns with a wide variety and constantly updated patterns has opened up a new Xintiandi in the history of lamps and lanterns. In addition, since the late Qing Dynasty, kerosene lamps were introduced into China. Beautiful lamps, advanced fuels, scientific combustion methods and brightness several times that of old oil lamps soon attracted the attention of countrymen people.

6. The earliest area to use electric lights in modern times was the Shanghai Concession. In the 14th year of the Guangxu reign (1888), Li Hongzhang, a minister of the Beiyang government, presented power generation equipment and electric lamps as tribute to Empress Dowager Cixi and Guangxu. Electric lights were supposed to be used for palace lighting at this time, but they were not used due to opposition from conservative forces within the palace.

The history of human invention of lamps can be traced back thousands of years. The following are several important stages in the development history of lamps:

1. Torch era: Torch is one of the earliest lighting tools, usually made of wooden sticks and flammable materials such as grass and fur tied together. It can provide light for people to travel at night.

2. Oil Lamp Era: Oil lamps first appeared in China around 1500 BC in human history. It is composed of lamp oil and sparks, which can continuously burn and illuminate the room. Oil lamps spread to Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages.

3. Gas lamp era: In the mid-19th century, gas lamps were introduced. It uses gas fuel, which is brighter than oil lamps and more conducive to urban lighting.

4. The Age of Electric Light: Thomas Edison invented the first light bulb in 1879, which was wrapped in a thin filament inside a vacuum glass bulb and made to emit light by passing electricity through the bulb. Electric lights are widely popular due to their low cost and low discontinuation cost, almost replacing other lighting methods worldwide.

5. The era of LED lights and smart lights: In recent decades, the development of LED light technology has made the use of LED lights increasingly widespread. Moreover, with the development of IoT technology, more and more lighting fixtures are becoming intelligent. Nowadays, smart lighting fixtures can be controlled through mobile apps or voice commands, and can automatically adjust brightness, color, set timing, and connect to the internet, making them flexible, convenient, energy-efficient, and environmentally friendly.

In short, the development of lighting fixtures can be traced back to ancient times. After thousands of years of evolution and development, people and technology have become increasingly advanced, from torches to smart lighting fixtures, always seeking safer, more universal, more convenient, more environmentally friendly, and more efficient lighting methods.

The earliest practical electric lamp was incandescent lamp, but before the birth of incandescent lamp, Humphrey David, an Englishman, made an arc lamp with 2000 batteries and two carbon rods. However, this kind of arc lamp is too bright, generates too much heat and is not durable, so it can not be used in ordinary places. In 1854, German watchmaker Henry Goebbels, who immigrated to the United States, made the first practical electric light using a carbonized bamboo wire placed in a vacuum glass bottle. It lasted for 400 hours, but he did not apply for a patent in time.

In 1860, Joseph Swan, an Englishman, also made a carbon filament lamp, but he failed to obtain a good vacuum environment to keep the carbon filament working for a long time.

In 1874, two Canadian electricians applied for a patent for an electric light bulb: filling nitrogen gas under a glass bulb to make an electrified carbon rod glow. However, they did not have enough financial resources to further improve this invention, so they sold the patent to Edison in 1875. After purchasing the patent, Edison attempted to improve the filament and finally manufactured a carbonized bamboo filament lamp that could last for 1200 hours in 1880.

At the beginning of the 20th century, carbide filaments were replaced by tungsten filaments, and tungsten filament incandescent lamps are still in use today. In 1938, fluorescent lamps were born. White LED lights were born in 1998. The main types of electric lights are: 1. incandescent bulbs. Ordinary incandescent bulbs are commonly used incandescent light bulbs, which are what most of us consider light bulbs. It is cheap, has good color rendering (Ra=100), lights up immediately when turned on, can be continuously dimmed, and has a simple structure. Therefore, tungsten filament bulbs also have diverse styles to match different lighting fixtures. 2. A tungsten halogen lamp is a gas filled incandescent lamp that contains some halogen elements or halides. Having all the characteristics of ordinary incandescent lamps, the light efficiency and lifespan are more than twice that of ordinary incandescent lamps, and the size is small. 3. Characteristics of fluorescent lamps: high luminous efficiency, long lifespan, and good light color. Fluorescent lamps come in various types such as straight tube, ring, and compact, and are widely used energy-saving lighting sources. Replacing incandescent lamps with straight tube fluorescent lamps can save 70-90% electricity and prolong their lifespan by 5-10 times.

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