Lantern riddles first developed from riddles and originated in the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period. This is a literary game full of ridicule, discipline, humor and banter. Lantern riddles hung on lanterns for people to guess and shoot began in the Southern Song Dynasty.

During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, word games such as "argot" and "crossword puzzle" appeared in the court and literati, which can be said to be the earliest lantern riddle. Solve riddles on the lanterns is a traditional form of entertainment in China. It uses artistic techniques and the laws of Chinese characters, focusing on the changes of meaning, and often uses a word and a poem to make riddles.

It can not only achieve the purpose of entertainment, but also increase people's knowledge and be loved by people. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, word games such as "argot" and "crossword puzzle" appeared in the court and literati, which can be said to be the earliest lantern riddle.