It is said that the the Shijo School was derived from a new kitchen-knife method (cooking manner) which was establisehd by FUJIWARA no Yamakage (Shijo Chunagon, or Shijo Vice-Councilor, 824-888) in accordance with an order given by the Emperor Koko.
四条流の起源は、藤原山蔭（四条中納言、824年-888年）が、光孝天皇の勅命により庖丁式（料理作法）の新式を定めたことに由来すると伝えられている。