In particular, it is well known that Kokyu is played in the following scene: In 'the act of 'Akoya-kotozeme' of "Dannoura kabuto gunki" (The War Chronicles at Dannoura), Akoya, a woman of peerless beauty intimate with Aku Shichibei Kagekiyo (who has disappeared seeking for his enemy Yoritomo) is questioned severely about the whereabouts of Kagekiyo, and the doubt is cleared because she splendidly played the Koto (So), the Shamisen (Shamisen for Jiuta songs) and the Kokyu, with no confusion in the melodies she played.
特に『壇浦兜軍記』の「阿古屋琴責の段」では、頼朝を仇と狙い姿を消した、悪七兵衛景清の馴染みの傾城、阿古屋が景清の行方を詮議され、琴（箏）、三味線(地歌三味線)、胡弓を見事に弾いて、その旋律に迷いがないことから、景清の行方を知っているのではないかという疑いを晴らすという場面で、胡弓が用いられることが有名である。