Chinese lantern is originally an American term to describe a Wish Lantern, used in light of the fact that The Kongming Lantern was the first hot air balloon, named after the great sage and military strategist of the Three Kingdoms Era of Chinese history Zhuge Liang.
Chinese lanterns are reported to date as far back as the 3rd Century B.C. however, making it likely that the invention of flying lantern is falsely attributed to Zhuge Liang however, which is in line with the traditional Chinese historical practice of attributing great discoveries to important miltary and historical figures, rather than their actual inventors. It is possible that the accrediting of the discovery to Kong Ming has something to do with resemblence that Wish Lanterns bear to the hat he is often seen to wear in paintings.
Sky lantern inventor Zhuge Liang

Sky lantern inventor Zhuge Liang

Sky lanterns is now one of the most common terms used to describe a Wish Lantern. Sky lanterns have their history rooted in ancient China. The Kongming Lantern was the first hot air balloon, named after the great sage and military strategist of the Three Kingdoms Era of Chinese history Zhuge Liang – the Kongming was very similar to what we now call sky lanterns, and was used as military signalling device.

Sky lanterns are reported to date as far back as the 3rd Century B.C. however, making it likely that the invention of flying lantern is falsely attributed to Zhuge Liang however, which is in line with the traditional Chinese historical practice of attributing great discoveries to important miltary and historical figures, rather than their actual inventors, so the actual inventor may be anonymous to us.

Sky lanterns have become an integral part of traditional culture in Asia, particularly in Thailand, where they are released at celebrations and can symbolise good luck, the making of wishes, and the sending of problems and worries away into the air. Large scale lantern festival like the festival of Loi Krahtong in Thailand produce stunning displays of hundreds of sky lanterns filling the sky.

Sky lanterns at a traditional festival in Thailand

Sky lanterns at a traditional festival in Thailand