It originated in China during the Tang Dynasty, and was transmitted to Japan during that period; however, it subsequently fell out of use for a certain period before reemerging during the Kamakura period, and has been used continuously since, evolving during the Edo period into the precursor of its current form.
中国の唐を起源とし、日本に伝来したが、その後空白期間を経て、鎌倉時代から江戸時代ごろに現在のかたちの祖形が成立した。