The riddle is also called Hu Wen. Solving riddles on lanterns is also called playing tiger, playing wall lamp, changing lamp, shooting, solving and disassembling, but people are used to using the word "riddle". Lantern riddles are the crystallization of the wisdom of the ancient working people in China and the comprehensive art of China traditional culture.

Lantern riddles are riddles written on colorful lanterns Riddles originated from China folk oral riddles, and were later processed into riddles by scholars. They have a long history in China. During the Spring and Autumn Period and the Warring States Period, "argot" or "thin character" appeared.

Qin and Han Dynasties became a kind of writing creation. During the Three Kingdoms period, guessing boxing prevailed. Lantern riddles appeared in the Song Dynasty. People tie riddles to colorful lanterns and let people guess. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, solve riddles on the lanterns was very popular among the people in China.