Shaolin Temple’ s Lamp-Offering prayer for blessings was completed successfully on February 5 or the 15th day of the first lunar month in the Guimao Year. The Great Monk Shi Yongxin burned incense and presided over the assembly, and took Buddhist disciples to devoutly chant, worship Buddha and offer lamps to pray for prosperity and safety of the country and people and social harmony.

Emperor Ming advocated Buddhism during the Eastern Han Dynasty. It was said monks appreciated Buddhist relics in Buddhism and lighted lamps to worship Buddha on the 15th day of the first lunar month. Thus lighting lamps at court and temples and hanging lamps at home of the gentry and the multitude to worship Buddha was gradually developed a custom of appreciating lamps in the Lantern Festival. Then this Buddhist rite becomes a grand folk festival. It is arguably to undergo a development process from the court to the folk and from the Central Plain to the whole country.