Wawn Dinery

Tales of Teyvat, a Genshin Lore Podcast

Episode 62: Lantern Rite

SEASON FOUR

Every episode our team provides travelers with visual and video aids to help better understand comparisons, learn more about topics, and follow what we’re discussing. While we strive to include links to official Genshin Impact resources, some may also be to third-party channels.

Below are some resources surrounding this episode about Lantern Rite that may be helpful to better understand the talking points and lore:

Xiao, a character from Genshin Impact, overlooking the Lantern Rite festival in Liyue. It is night time as the sky is speckled with gold lanterns that almost look like fire flies or stars in the night sky. Xiao stands mid-ground with his back to the viewer as he takes in the view.

The first Lantern Rite took place in 2021, with Xiao at the center of the story. Even with his best efforts to avoid joining the festival, Traveler and Paimon still get him close enough to watch the finale.

Watch on YouTube: Lantern Rite: Mingxiao Convergence

The Mingxiao Lantern based on adeptus Skybracer during the 2021 Lantern Rite festival in the video game Genshin Impact. The lantern is large and resembles a parade float. The bottom is made of a wooden based with golden clouds build around it, most likely also made of wood. On top a blue and yellow deer, with golden antlers and yellow and green spiral designs on the body, looks like it is walking on air.

A fallen adepti is always the subject of the Mingxiao Lantern at the center of the festival. Skybracer was the focus in 2021 for his heroic act of sacrificing his prized antlers to save people from a collapsing mountain.

A screenshot of Mt. Tianheng, a geographical landmark in the video game Genshin Imapct. It shows a mountain, form a far, with a large cave toward the top on a plateau. The cave is surrounded by large branches that seem to hold the cave's entrance open. The mountain itself is jagged and grey, with green grass and a few trees scattered on the plateau. There is an arrow pointing to the cave held open by the roots. Additionally, there is an arrow pointing to a small body of water at the base of the plateau.

Feens discusses where the story of Skybracer could have possibly occurred in Liyue. Knowing his blood became the start of the Bishui River, the mountain adjacent to Mt. Tianheng seems like the most logical place. There is an opening with entwined roots that could be the remnants of his antlers.

Shenhe, from the video game Genshin Impact, walks through Liyue harbor. She looks over her shoulder, a warm expression and smile on her face. Behind her, Xiao stands playing with a firework that is exploding in the air. The image is in a 2D quality of work that Genshin often uses for their promo art. Behind Xiao, yellow lanterns can be seen floating into the night sky.

The second Lantern Rite in 2022 was entitled ‘Fleeting Colors in Flight’ and centered around a very busy Keqing. Along with her regular duties as Yuheng of the Liyue Qixing, Keqing also worked to bring fireworks to the festival finale.

Watch on YouTube: Fleeting Colors in Flight Event Cutscene Animation

The Mingxiao Lantern from the 2022 Lantern Rite event in Genshin Impact. The Mingxiao lantern looks like a festival float sitting on a giant red stage on the harbor. The stage has a red bridge with a matching red carpet on it. The Lantern base, which is assumed to be made out of wood, looks like a blooming orange flower. Out of the middle of the flowers there are two khoi fish. These large Khoi Fish are dancing around one another and are yellow, orange and red. There are cartoon es waves surrounding them.

The Mingxiao Lantern for 2022 was honoring an unknown Golden Carp pair. At the time there wasn’t a whole lot of information about them. But with the recent release of Chenyu Vale, many believe it may have been adeptus Fujin. Be sure to do the new quests in the area and let us know if you agree!

Hu Tao, a pyro character from the video game Genshin Impact, waves at the camera as she calls you over. Her mouth is open in a large smile as her long, brown hair flows in the wind. Behind her, their are fireworks going off in the night sky.

The third Lantern Rite in 2023 was entitled ‘The Exquisite Night Chimes’ and centered on new lore surrounding the Guili Assembly. For the first time, we saw the human form of Cloud Retainer along with Guizhong and a young Madame Ping, aka Streetward Rambler. For better or worse, we were also introduced to ‘The Blaze Lilies’. And we were also given a beautiful bonus story video not included in the game.

Watch on YouTube: The Exquisite Night Chimes Cutscene Animation

The Mingxiao Lantern from the 2023 Lantern Rite event in the video game Genshin Impact. This year's lantern, which resembles a large parade float, sat on a wooden platform. A large bird flies in the center of the float, its head facing up and its wings spread wide. The bird is mad eof orange and red hues. Behind the bird, also made out of wood as a part of the lantern, there are blue mountains and yellow clouds.

The 2023 Mingxiao Lantern honored adeptus Sea Gazer, the BFF of Mountain Shaper and owner of the ‘Fantastic Compass.’ An unknown person created this magical device to seal away evil monsters and at some point, Sea Gazer came to possess it. Later, he gave the compass to a mortal to use as a catalyst. After a few years, the two used the device to exorcise demons in the mountains.

Characters from Genshin Impact sit around a table covered in food and drink. This image shows half of the table. The characters sit on wooden chairs, while Paimon floats. The characters from left to right (back of the table to front) are Xiao, Paimon, Lumine, Hu Tao, and Xiangling. Everyone seems content.

Hu Tao & Xinyan’s rap wasn’t the only cringe-worthy moment of the 2023 Lantern Rite. Hu Tao invited us to a dinner party. The dinner party gets pretty awkward when Xiao, Zhongli, and Venti have to hide that they’ve known eachother for hundreds of years. Not to mention, other guests are keeping secrets from one another too. At least this cringe was only based on some tense situations and not an ill-fated performance.

Gaming, a character from the Video Game Genshin Impact, looks at the camera, smiling, in an excited action pose. He seems to be mid jump as he looks at the camera, pulling his one arm back like he may throw it in the air.

The most recent Lantern Rite, ‘Vibrant Harriers Aloft in Spring Breeze,’ was in early 2024 and centered around a new Liyue character from Chenyu Vale, Gaming. His touching story involved reuniting and reconciling with his father who disagreed with his pursuit of becoming a professional Wushou dancer – which we get to see in the finale. This heartfelt story had all the good feelings along with a class on kite making from Cloud Retainer, fishing with Zhongli, and two adepti in their human suits.

Watch on YouTube: Lantern Rite 2024 | End Cutscene

The Mingxiao lantern from the 2024 Lantern Rite event in the video game Genshin Impact. The Mingxiao lantern resembles a large and wooden parade float. It sits on a large red stage and has a red bridge leading to it, lined with lit candles. The Mingxiao lantern is a man wearing a fancy robe and mask, sitting criss cross among yellow clouds. They hold a talisman in their one hand, as the other hand rests on their leg.

This year’s Mingxiao Lantern was Menogias, one of the five strongest yakshas (alongside Bosacius, Indarias, Bonanus, and Alatus/Xiao). Also known as General Kapisas, he fought against the god remains and eventually succumbed to his karmic debt. Menogias had a hobby of designing intricately beautiful clothes, including the outfit Rex Lapis wears in his mortal form.

A dark sky is filled with yellow lanterns of all sizes floating into the night sky. The lanterns are green and orange in tone and are turning the usual black/blue sky brown. This is a real photo, and not a screenshot from a video game. There are people looking up at the lanterns, but we only see them from behind.

Al tells us about the IRL event Lantern Rite is based on, Chinese New Year, and some of its origins. This annual celebration concludes with the Lantern Festival promoting reconciliation, peace, and forgiveness. And, of course, the release of beautiful lanterns symbolizing an embrace of an optimistic future.

A screenshot of the night sky in the video game Genshin Impact. The sky is dark blue with white and fluffy clouds scattered. In the top right corner we can see a bright white full moon.

The moon plays a recurring role in the lore of Teyvat, and Lantern Rite is no different. It’s said to take place on the first full moon of the New Year and lasts for five days. But Tif brings up a good question: If the moon is always full in Teyvat, how do they know it’s the first? Which also raises the question: Why? Does it link back to the lore on the moon sisters, maybe game limitations, or is it simply for aesthetics? Let us know what you think.

Cloud Retainer, from Genshin Impact, in her human form, now known as Xianyun. She sits on the right side of the screen with arms cross and eyes closed, looking annoyed. Behind her, Moraz, or Zhongli's archon name, stands showing us his profile as he looks to something on a table in front of him. This image is done in a 2D graphic that Genshin typically uses for some of its cutscenes and graphics.

While chatting about the story from the 2023 edition of Lantern Rite, Tif mentions that we discussed all the lore dropped during that beautiful cutscene in our Guili Assembly episode from Season Two. Be sure to check it out if you haven’t already: Episode 39: Guili Assembly

A young Kevin Bacon has his back mostly to the viewer as he works toward the right. He has his eyes closed, but arches his chin toward the sky as he listens to something on headphones. On his hip, attached to his jeans and propping up his white t-shirt we see a walkman, a portable audio player that was popular in the 1980s. Overlaid on top of him is the word "Footloose" in a fun script font.

Feens hates Kevin Bacon and the 1980’s. At least that’s the takeaway Tif got from the conversation. Have you seen the “film that defined a generation” (or so said the OG movie poster)? The original movie starring Kevin Bacon came out in 1984, was turned into a Broadway show in 1998 and remade for the big screen in 2011.

Artist Spotlight

Genshin Impact fanart of Gaming by Luhuala (@luhuala_art). Gaming is drawn in a 2D oil painting as he smiles at the camera holding his Wushou dance prop over his head. Behind him there are fireworks going off.
© Luhuala (@luhuala_art)

There are so many talented & creative people in the Genshin community, and we’d like to spread some love to a wonderful artist – Luhuala (@luhuala_art). Luhuala’s art style is dreamy and rich, which makes the characters even more gorgeous. And their Gaming piece is no exception! It exudes pure happiness and kindness, just like Gaming. Be sure to give them a follow and if you have the means, consider them for a commission or visit their store.

See more work from Luhuala on Instagram, X/Twitter, and Etsy.

Artwork posted with permission of the artist.

Letters from Afar

Kirara from Genshin Impact standing next to a wooden mailbox and a squirrel. She stands on a stone tile with grass and a pink sky behind here. Imposed next to her are two letters.

Fellow traveler Audrey wrote in and asked if we plan to cover the Narzissenkreuz Ordo, Institute, Mary-Ann, and the rest of the Fontaine crew. It’s as if Mona was using her scryglass on Season Four, because we do in fact have a full episode coming up very soon centered around the whole Narzissenkreuz Saga. Stay tuned!

Extras

@talesoftif

Gaming’s Wushou dance to close out this year’s Lantern Rite #genshinimpact #genshin #genshingaming #lanternrite #lanternrite2024 #liyue #wushou #cloudretainer

♬ original sound – Tif

Follow @thefeenster & @talesoftif for fun Genshin TikToks and more.

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Tales of Teyvat is a fan-based podcast and is in no way affiliated with Genshin Impact or HoYoverse.
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