Lantern Courtyard — Hang a Wish Lantern Online
The Lantern Courtyard is where you hang wish lanterns at Goyosa in Hapjang (합장), the browser-based online temple. You can write up to 40 characters on a lantern. By default it is a private lantern only you can see, but you can also choose to hang a shared lantern that everyone can see.
- Where
- Goyosa temple grounds, the courtyard with the wish lantern racks
- What you can do
- Hang a wish lantern, look at shared lanterns
- Length
- Up to 40 characters, one lantern per minute
- Who can see it
- Private by default; shared lanterns are visible to everyone
- How long it stays
- 24 hours; up to 360 lanterns in the whole courtyard
Why temples hang lanterns
In Buddhism, a lamp is often compared to wisdom that lights up the darkness of the mind. That is why Korean temples hang lotus lanterns (yeondeung) around Buddha's Birthday, and it is common to see a name or a wish written on each lantern. How and when lanterns are hung differs from temple to temple, but the idea is much the same: hanging up a wish for someone's peace as a light.
Lanterns in the Goyosa Lantern Courtyard
Goyosa's Lantern Courtyard has racks for hanging wish lanterns. You can write up to 40 characters on a lantern and hang one per minute. A lantern stays up for 24 hours, and the courtyard holds up to 360 lanterns in total; beyond that, the oldest lanterns come down first.
When you hang a lantern, a private lantern is the default. No one else can see it, so it's fine to write down feelings that are hard to share. If you choose a shared lantern, everyone currently online can see it, and if someone else's lantern bothers you, you can hide it on your own screen.
If you are writing about something painful
A lantern containing words that suggest a crisis will not be hung. Instead, the person who wrote it sees information about 109 (Korea's 24-hour suicide prevention line) and 1577-0199 (Korea's mental health crisis line). If you are going through a very hard time, please read When things feel very hard first.
Where to go after the Lantern Courtyard
After hanging a lantern, step into the Main Buddha Hall, the central Dharma hall, and sit on a meditation cushion. Inside the hall you can also light a candle or an Indeung lamp. At the Bell Pavilion you passed on the way, you can ring the bell for a wish once a day.
Try it in Hapjang
Get close to the Lantern Courtyard and a button for hanging a wish lantern appears. Write your thoughts in 40 characters or fewer, choose whether to hang it as a private lantern or a shared lantern, and hang it. One minute after hanging a lantern, you can hang the next. You can walk around and read lanterns others have shared, and hide any you would rather not see.
Frequently asked questions
Can other people see my wish lantern?
By default it is a private lantern, so other people cannot see it. If you choose a shared lantern when hanging it, everyone can see it.
How long does a wish lantern stay up?
A lantern stays up for 24 hours. If the courtyard goes over 360 lanterns in total, the oldest come down first.
How many characters can I write on a wish lantern?
Up to 40 characters, and you can hang one lantern per minute.
Related pages
- How to Hang a Wish Lantern and What to Write on ItWhat a temple wish lantern means and tips for writing one. Hang a private lantern or a shared one in Hapjang's Lantern Courtyard, an online temple.
- Buddhist Candle Offerings and Indeung Lamps: MeaningWhy Buddhists light candles before the Buddha and hang name lamps (indeung) in the hall, and how to light a candle or a lamp in Hapjang's Main Buddha Hall.
- Main Buddha Hall (Daeungjeon) — Sit and Bow OnlineThe Main Buddha Hall is the heart of a Korean temple. In Hapjang, sit on one of 312 cushions to breathe, bow, copy sutras and ring a singing bowl.
- When It Feels Too Hard: Where to Get Help Right NowToo hard to bear alone? Reach out now. US: call or text 988. UK & Ireland: Samaritans 116 123. Australia: 13 11 14. Korea: 109. Or your emergency number.
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