According to Lin Mao-hsien, lecturer in Taiwanese literature at Providence University, many early migrants traveling from China to Taiwan died of disease while still on the waters. Water lanterns are released to guide to shore souls who perished in darkness of the watery depths.
靜宜大學台灣文學所專任講師林茂賢指出，唐山過台灣，許多移民還沒踏上新土地，就死於海難或疫病，放水燈是特別替那些困於幽暗深海中的孤魂野鬼引路上岸的。