Lamp collector lights up Hainan memories

A visitor, displays two lamps. [Photo by Yuan Chen for China Daily]

In 1915, Haikou imported a diesel generator from the United Kingdom and installed an electric light at the generating house, the first electric light in Hainan. The light was abandoned as the firm moved.

"What the light might look like and how can I find it?" These were questions that Wang dealt with for years. One day he got the much desired object from an elderly collector.

He points out other fascinating examples. "This was passed on by my grandmother," said Wang, with deep affection, pointing to a tiny lamp which could be the smallest in the world, only about five centimeters in height and 2 centimeters in width, depicting a Hainan fisherman.

"My grandma took the small lamp with her whenever she went to the sea for fishing because she believes it was convenient to use and it was a mascot.

"Most people didn't store lamps in the past. So I could easily get a favorite lamp from a friend after a meal or just gave them a bag of rice," Wang said as he recalled how he has got some of his collection.

However, he has needed help to fund his ambition. "The collections are not that easy and Wang has spent much of the family savings. It is a good thing to do so I support him," said Chen Jixin, Wang's wife, a retired librarian.

To Wang, collecting the lamps is actually passing on Hainan's tradition.

In 2016, he wrote a book entitled The Culture of Lamps and Electricity, in which he tells the stories about his treasures－the Qiongya begonia lamps, the oil lamps and the lamp culture with the Silk Road.

The Qiongya begonia lamps have a special historical and cultural value for Hainan, because from the popular and artistic frog-shaped lamp holders we can see how Hainan people in ancient times studied the frogs. It also shows their technical know-how as they used the oil of dried fruits for lighting.

"Both the flowers and oil of begonia trees give out a light fragrance when lit. This helps fight growing moss on the walls and prevent insects."

The large number of such lamps show how popular it used to be and how fragrant the island was with begonia flowers blossoming in many areas on the island, said Wang.