China has its own light fittings in Warring States Period and developing continually till now. From archaeological findings we know that, China ancient light fittings not only rich in varieties but also have practicability and figure of the time. Many special design light fittings are even exquisite artworks. 　　　　

      In ancient documents, “candle” is the earliest illuminate fitting. In the book YILI YANLI, it indicates different people holding candle in different position. In Liji Quli Shang also says: “Torch which can not see the wood stick”. Zhengxuan made a remark: Zhu is torch”, in addition, Jia Gongyan says: “Zhu" is torch, in ancient time there was no candle but use Jinqiao (Jinqiao, a kind of shrub, rich in variety, usually grows in weald, the deadwood is easy to burn—by author), and there are many other ancient materials recorded about Zhu. From this we can see that Zhu in Xizhou period is torch made of flammable woods, and usually call the unlighted torch "Qiao", and call the lighting torch that can be held "Zhu".

      In Warring State Period, the name Deng came into existed and had been recorded in The Epic. Light fitting in Warring State Period not only made of pottery, bronze but also jade. The only jade lamp is just left one piece in the Palace Museum, which has beautiful and exquisite figure. The light fitting at that time is quite different. In Zhongshan King Mausoleum in Pingshan County of Hebei Province unearthed a lamp with 15 branches, the shape looks like a flourishing tree, supporting 15 lamp stands, lamp stands were interspersed. On the branches, there are dragons, birds and playing monkeys and all have different motions. Today we call this kind of lamp girandole, and call lamp with servant figure Renyong lamp. For the latter, there are male or female figure, most of them are image of pimping locals. The way of holding quite different, for example: standing with arms open and holding lamp above head; some is kneeling, both hands stretch out ad lamp on the hands. Some times the figure will hold more than one lamp, but the max. are three. 　　

      And there is also one kind of light fitting, we called it “ Commodity imitating lamp”, mainly imitate vessels in daily life, for example: standing cup, tripod caldron, a round- mouthed food vessel with two or four loop handles. In 1974, a tripod caldron imitating lamp was unearthed in No.7 Warring States Period tomb in Pingliang temple of Gansu province. The whole vessel is consist of body, cover, handle. The body is like a caldron with tripods, two gripes, there is grooves in the grips, perforate in both sides with iron bar run through. In the center of the cover, there is a handle with duck head turning figure. Turn the head of the ducks, and the ware will close, and become a vessel, when it need to use, turn the cover then press the button, the vessel will turn into a lamp, the structure is very felicity. 　　

      In Song Dynasty, lamp casting is every luxurious, it also had been written in the book of Xijing Miscellanea. 　

      In Eastern Han and Western Han Dynasty, Chinese lamp manufacturing has new development, there is inherit of Warring State period and Qin Dynasty but also innovation. In that period, the country was prevailing funeral concept; so daily lamps become the common items in funeral object. Many unearthed objects show that, the number of light fittings not only increase remarkably, but also has new development in material and variety. It tells us that the use of lamp became common. From materials, we can see that, besides bronze lamps leading the main position, pottery lamp appeared and become a new leading fashion, there are also iron lamp and stone lamp, from lamp figure, there is human figure lamp and commodity imitating lamp, there were also lamps in animals’ figure; from function, there is not only stand lamp, but also portable lamp and pendant lamp. 　　

      Appearing of iron lamp has close connection to development of iron casting technology and common use of iron tools. But there is not much iron lamps unearthed in the country. There is one iron lamp unearthed in one Eastern Han Dynasty tomb in Shaogou, Luoyang, Henan, which is 73cm high with round lamp stand. There is a lampstandard stretched out three rows lamp, total 12 branches, and on the top of the branch, there is a round lamp. On the top of the lampstandard, there is a bird spreading the wings. This lamp is the representative of iron lamp at that time. 　　

      In Wei Dynasty to the Song and Yuan Dynasty, besides use as light fittings, it gradually became necessary article in sacrifice and festivals. In the paintings of Tang and Song Dynasty, especially in mural painting, you can often find pictures that lady’s maid holding candler, or candler with lighting candle. In some brick tomb in Song and Yuan Dynasty, we also often find they built lamp holder on the wall of the tomb. 　　

      Mingqing and Qing Dynasty is the most flourishing period in Chinese lighting development history. The most significant behavior was the materials, variety of lighting fittings and candlers were richer than before. In materials, besides metal, pottery, jade lamp fitting, there and lamp stand, glass and enamel material lamp appeared. The prevailing of various and changing palace lantern, bring China lighting history to a new milestone. 　　

      Palace lantern is lamp used in imperial palace. Palace lamp use thin wood to make the bone and cover with thin silk and glass, and draw various pattern on the surface. In Qing Dynasty, because palace lamp is so rare, it even became a gift that emperor present to the maharaja and ministers. The book, Qing Dynasty History has the detail. 　　

      Palace lantern in Ming and Qing Dynasty were mainly use thin wood (with carving pattern, carved lacquer ) as the frame, inlay thin silk, glass or fiberglass. Dian Hai Yu Heng Record (written by Qing Tan Hui) has the detail discription of the processing, introduction to capital and the prevailing in the folk.

      Palace lantern, being special artwork of Chinese handicraft, enjoy high reputation in the world, we still can find palace lantern decoration in some luxurious hall and house today. 　　

      Chinese lighting history is a very long story. Chinese lighting enjoys high reputation in the days when the whole world is still use fire for lighting. Even today that electric light fitting change rapidly, when festival of lanterns comes, many Chinese families will decorate with lanterns and streamers, the scenery present a splendid sight. 　

      In 1879, Edison invented incandescent lamp, from then on people entered electric lighting age. But Chinese produce lamps starts from early of 20 century. Chinese electric lighting industry history is relatively short, most of lighting enterprises came into exist in 1958 to 1960. The development of domestic lighting fittings approximately experienced self-research, introduce in large quantity and digester period. At present, base on introduce foreign advanced luminaire, China had designed and developed many luminaire production equipments, which suitable for Chinese actual situation and push the country’s lighting equipment level to a new standard.