A Sung writer mentions witty poems containing hidden meanings written on silk lanterns to amuse passersby. The name "lantern riddle" originated around that time.
宋人周密在他的「武林舊事」燈品一節中，論及各色精妙的燈彩時說：「有以絹燈翦寫詩詞，時寓譏笑，及畫人物，藏頭隱語，及舊京諢語，戲弄行人。」