From the description of "People clapping their hands to show respect to others"in the Gishi-wajin-den (the first written record of Japan's commerce) of handclapping as the customary greeting of the people of Wa (the Japanese) in the Yamatai-koku Kingdom, used in veneration of nobles, it is understood that hakushu was also made toward people in those days.
魏志倭人伝には、倭人（後の日本人）の邪馬台国などの風習として、「見大人所敬但搏手以當脆拝」と記され、貴人に対し手を打ち跪いて拝礼をしていたとされており、当時は人に対しても拍手を行っていたことがわかる。