The origin of tsuya is commonly believed to stem from the story that when Buddha died, the disciples of Buddha read his teachings throughout the night in grief while protecting his body, although there is another view that it originated from the funeral of Ameno Wakahiko, which is depicted in the Kojiki, a record of ancient matters.
起源は、釈迦の入滅後、悲しんだ弟子たちが遺体を守りながら夜通し説法を行ったという故事によるのが通説だが、『古事記』に記された天若日子（あめのわかひこ）の葬送を起源とする説もある。