Meaning:
“开” means to “open,” and “光” means “light.” A term often used in Buddhism and Taoism, it refers to a ceremony where newly built temples or statues are consecrated by senior monks before being put into use. Nowadays, people ask monks to help consecrate or bless a great variety of personal articles, ranging from talismans, ornaments to cellphone numbers, in order to seek good luck and protection from gods. While people call all those scenarios “开光,” the term can only be used on Buddhist statues in a strict sense. And the ceremony is meant to teach people about the purpose of sacrificing to the god whose statue is consecrated. Another term “加持” (jiāchí, meaning “protection”) is used for other mundane objects. However, common folks just use “开光” to refer to both situations.
Example:
A: 你的盒子里是什么宝贝？
Nǐ de hézi lǐ shì shénme bǎobèi?
What treasure are you hiding in the box?
B: 是个陶瓷花瓶。我刚刚拿去寺庙开光了。
Shì gè táocí huāpíng。Wǒ gānggāng náqù sìmiào kāiguāng le。
A porcelain vase. I just had it consecrated in a temple.
(Edited by Stephanie Yang)