58 The Lantern of Shanghai
上海的灯笼
Shanghai |
China
Chinese
Behind the scenes
This story was born from a particularly intense workday in Shanghai, a fascinating city where everything seems to move at high speed: back-to-back meetings, constant traffic, screens and lights that never switch off. In such moments, one may begin to wonder whether all this effort is truly meaningful, especially when it comes at the cost of time spent away from loved ones.
That evening, I felt the need to walk and find a sense of calm. Leaving the main avenues behind, I let myself wander into older streets where the city seemed to breathe differently.
It was there that I saw children releasing lanterns into the night sky. This simple scene suddenly brought me back to the present moment. Children have this remarkable ability to dream without limits and to remind us of what truly matters.
I wanted to capture the emotion of that very real moment, simply adapting the young girl’s words in the text.
Echoes of the world
The title of the text refers to an object deeply rooted in Chinese culture: the lantern, called 灯笼 (denglong).
The first character, 灯 (deng), means “lamp” or “light.” The second, 笼 (long), refers to a structure that encloses or protects the flame. Together, they evoke the image of a fragile light that is sheltered so it can continue to shine.
In China, lanterns are part of many celebrations and often symbolize hope, wishes, or dreams entrusted to the sky. Their soft glow contrasts with the intensity of large modern cities.
In this story, the lantern rising into the night becomes the symbol of a suspended moment within the surrounding turmoil.
And you, what dreams would you like to release into the night sky?
To reflect and capture your thoughts, turn to the dedicated pages in the book.
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