燈

Phono-semantic compound:

火 (불 화) — semantic element, representing fire or light.

登 (오를 등) — phonetic element, providing the sound deung (등).

The character literally conveys “fire that ascends or rises,” reflecting how lamplight or flames naturally climb upward.

In seal script (篆書) and clerical script (隷書), the form of 燈 clearly shows the radical 火 (fire) combined with 登 (to rise), suggesting a flame mounted upon a stand — the image of a lamp lifting light above darkness.

등불 (燈火) — light, flame, lamp

전등 (電燈) — electric light

등잔 (燈盞) — traditional oil lamp

촛불 (燭燈) — candlelight

In traditional contexts, 燈 refers specifically to oil lamps or lanterns, while in modern compounds it broadly represents artificial light sources, including electric or symbolic illumination.

燈 holds profound cultural symbolism throughout East Asia, signifying not only physical light but also knowledge, hope, and spiritual awakening.

In Buddhist tradition, the 등불(燈火) symbolizes the light of wisdom (智慧) dispelling the darkness of ignorance. During 연등회 (“Lotus Lantern Festival”), thousands of lamps are lit to honor Buddha’s birth and to pray for enlightenment and peace.

In Confucian texts, 燈 also symbolizes continuity of learning and filial devotion — a lamp burning late into the night evokes the diligence of scholars and the virtue of perseverance (불퇴의 등불).

Poets used 燈 to express solitude, longing, or meditation:

「孤燈不寐」 — “Sleepless beneath a solitary lamp.”

A classic image of reflection and yearning in the night.

Symbolic interpretation:

燈 represents the taming of fire into meaning —

turning destructive force into a source of warmth, beauty, and wisdom.

Hence, throughout East Asian history, a lit lamp came to symbolize:

지혜 (Wisdom) — illuminating truth.

신앙 (Faith) — the inner flame of belief.

희망 (Hope) — light that endures through darkness.

인도 (Guidance) — showing the way forward.

“A single lamp can banish a thousand years of darkness.” — Buddhist proverb

燈 thus endures not only as a practical symbol of light but as a spiritual emblem of awakening and continuity across all East Asian traditions.

Art & architecture:

燈 imagery has been central in East Asian art, ritual, and architecture for over two millennia:

석등 (石燈, stone lanterns) — stone lamps placed before Buddhist temples, symbolizing enlightenment and eternal light.

In Korea, famous examples include the 석가탑 석등 (Sakyamuni Pagoda Lantern) at Bulguksa and the 연화등 (lotus-lamp) motif carved into temple courtyards.

연등 (蓮燈, lotus lanterns) — made of paper or silk in the shape of a lotus flower, representing purity and awakening.

These are still used in the 연등회 (Yeondeunghoe) festival, one of the oldest continuous cultural events in Korea (UNESCO Intangible Heritage).

금동연등 (金銅燃燈) — gilt-bronze lamps found in Buddhist temples and tombs, such as the 백제 금동대향로 and the 통일신라 금동연등대, embodying the artistry of combining light with devotion.

회랑의 등불 (Cloister Lamps) — in temples, cloister corridors were often lit by hanging lamps symbolizing the continuity of dharma. The flickering flame within the wind-shielded glass or bronze housing became a metaphor for steady faith amidst impermanence.

The motif of 燈 thus bridges architecture, spirituality, and aesthetics, expressing how light both guides and sanctifies human space.