According to "Midokanpaku-ki (Midokanpaku diary)," when peacocks arrived at the imperial court from North Soh Dynasty in China in 1015, Emperor Sanjo, the emperor at that time, presented them to Michinaga, who is said to have kept them at Tsuchimikado-dono Palace.
また『御堂関白記』によれば、長和4年（1015年）北宋朝からクジャクが朝廷に届き、これを時の三条天皇が道長に下賜し、道長は土御門殿で飼っていたという。