In modern times, it is generally believed that candles originated from torches in primitive times. Primitive people painted things like fat or wax on bark or sawdust, and then tied them together to make torches for lighting. There is also a legend that in the pre-Qin and ancient times, someone tied mugwort and reed into a bundle, then dipped it in some oil and lit it for lighting. Later, someone wrapped a hollow reed with cloth, filled it with beeswax and lit it.
Beeswax, which appeared in the 3rd century BC, may be the embryonic form of candles we see today. In the west, there was a time when bees were kept in monasteries to make beeswax. This is mainly because Catholicism believes that beeswax is a symbol of virgin conception, so it is regarded as pure light and is enshrined on the altar of the church. According to the existing literature, the time of producing beeswax in China is roughly the same as that in the west, and this kind of candle was introduced from China in Nara period (AD 7 10 ~ 784). The popularity of candles has gone through a long historical period. According to Xijing Miscellanies, there were candles in the tribute from South Vietnam to Gaudi in the Han Dynasty. It is said that the king will send candles to officials above the marquis and top-grade officials during the Cold Food Festival, indicating that candles were extremely scarce at that time. During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, candles were widely used, but they were mainly used for lighting in the upper class, not in the homes of ordinary people. In the Tang dynasty, it was also recorded that there were candles in Jinzhou's tribute, and officials of the Tang dynasty also set up an official to look after the candles in the palace. It was recorded in the Song Dynasty that there was a candle trade in the border trade with Xixia at that time. Candle, as a kind of foreign trade and foreign exchange, shows that although it was widely used at that time, it was still precious. After the Ming and Qing Dynasties, candles gradually entered the homes of ordinary people, and people used them more in their daily lives. But ordinary lamps, such as oil lamps and torches, can't be compared.
Compared with modern candles, ancient candles have many disadvantages. Li Shangyin, a poet in the Tang Dynasty, wrote a poem "How to Cut Candles in the West Window". Why do poets cut candles? At that time, the wick was made of cotton thread and stood upright in the center of the flame. Because it is impossible to burn out carbonization, it is necessary to cut off the remaining wick ends with scissors from time to time. This is undoubtedly a troublesome thing. 1820, a Frenchman, Jean Bessie, invented a wick made of three cotton threads, which made the wick loosen naturally when burning, and the end just tilted to the outside of the flame, so it could burn completely.