In the heart of Tainan, where the scent of grilled squid mixes with the sweetness of pineapple cakes and the steady beat of temple drums echoes through the streets, there was a night market known for its brilliance during festival season. On these nights, thousands of lanterns floated above the crowd like soft, glowing stars, bathing the entire market in warm light.
Among the people who visited often was a small child named Minghao. He loved the night market because it felt alive with color. Vendors shouted cheerful greetings. Children tugged at their parents’ sleeves asking for candied fruit. Musicians filled the air with melodies that danced with the lantern light. Every year, during the grand Lantern Festival, Minghao begged his mother to take him, and she always did, allowing him to explore the stalls as long as he stayed close.
But one year, the festival grew even larger than in previous seasons. Visitors arrived from every corner of southern Taiwan. Lanterns stretched farther than anyone could see. Glowing dragons twirled above rooftops. As Minghao and his mother walked through the crowd, a group of dancers carrying huge lion heads bounded past them. Minghao stepped aside to get a better view, and before he realized it, the flow of people had carried him far away.
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He turned in all directions, but he could not see his mother. The lanterns suddenly seemed too bright. The voices too loud. What had once filled him with joy now made him tremble. He called out softly at first, then louder, but no one heard him over the festival drums.
Trying not to cry, Minghao wandered through the market. Shadows stretched beneath the lanterns, moving with the passing crowd. He passed a vendor arranging sesame pastries and another who displayed piles of handmade toys. Each face he saw was unfamiliar. The night market, usually a place of comfort, became a maze of winding alleys and flickering lights.
As he reached the edge of a quieter lane, he noticed a lantern hanging alone. It was round and softly glowing, painted with a smile. Though it swayed gently, there was no wind. Minghao felt drawn to it, as if it recognized his sadness. When he stepped closer, the lantern bobbed twice, almost like a greeting.
Minghao blinked in surprise. The lantern floated down from its hook and hovered in front of him, the painted smile seeming to warm and brighten. Though it had no voice, he felt it asking him to follow. Unsure what else to do, he nodded.
The lantern began gliding through the market, moving slowly enough that Minghao could keep up. As they traveled, the lantern lit the path more clearly than any of the surrounding lights. Crowded alleys parted. Vendors noticed the glow and stepped aside kindly. Even the noise seemed to soften as the lantern passed, as if the world respected its presence.
At one turn, Minghao stumbled, almost falling into a puddle from an earlier afternoon rain. The lantern dipped quickly, shining directly on the ground so he could see clearly. At another moment, when a group of energetic children ran past, the lantern rose above them like a tiny guardian star until the path was safe again.
Minghao felt a calmness settle over him. His fear faded, replaced by trust. Though he still did not know where his mother was, he believed he would find her soon.
As they reached a wider section of the market, music drifted from a temple courtyard. There were fewer people here, and the air felt cooler. The lantern slowed, turning halfway as if checking to see whether Minghao was still behind it. He nodded again.
Then, in the distance, he heard a voice calling his name. It was faint at first but unmistakable. His mother was searching for him.
The lantern floated upward, glowing brighter than it had before. It illuminated the path until Minghao saw his mother running toward him, tears streaming down her face. She wrapped him tightly in her arms, holding him as though she would never let go.
When she finally pulled away, she looked around in astonishment. “Did you carry a lantern with you?” she asked.
Minghao turned to gesture at his glowing guide, but the lantern was already drifting upward. It rose slowly, gently, like a floating wish carried by the night breeze. Then it joined the other lanterns in the sky, blending among them until it could no longer be distinguished.
Minghao and his mother watched in silence. The moment felt sacred, as if they had witnessed something meant only for those in need. She squeezed his hand and whispered a quiet thanks.
Later that night, when they returned home, Minghao asked her if she knew anything about lanterns that moved on their own. She smiled softly and told him an old southern Taiwanese belief. On certain festival nights, spirits who dwell in lanterns walk the market, guiding lost travelers and safeguarding children. These spirits are said to reveal themselves only to the lonely, the frightened, or the pure-hearted.
Minghao slept peacefully that night. In his dreams, the smiling lantern glowed warmly, watching over the night market like a guardian star.
And every year afterward, during the Lantern Festival, Minghao looked for that lantern. Sometimes he thought he glimpsed its familiar smile among the countless lights. Whether it was truly the same spirit, he could never be sure. But he always felt that somewhere in the glow of the festival, the lantern spirit continued its silent vigil, guiding those who needed help through the winding streets of Tainan.
Moral Lesson
Even in overwhelming places and moments of fear, kindness and unseen guardians can guide us when we show trust, courage, and an open heart.
Knowledge Check
- Who guided Minghao through the night market?
A cheerful lantern spirit that appeared during the festival. - Why did Minghao become lost?
He was separated from his mother when dancers and crowds swept past him. - How did the lantern spirit help him?
It lit his path, protected him from crowds, and gently guided him toward safety. - What belief did Minghao’s mother share with him?
That lantern spirits appear during festivals to protect lost wanderers and children. - Where does this story take place?
In a bustling night market in Tainan, southern Taiwan. - What lesson does the story teach?
That protection and kindness often come in unexpected forms when they are most needed.
Source: Adapted from Tainan City Museum of Folklore Festival Archives, 2017.
Cultural Origin: Southern Taiwanese urban folklore.
