In the "Manyoshu", it was given the Japanese reading 'Miyabi' and held the additional meaning of 'a curious mind'; in the Heian period, it meant historical events which were quoted in Utaawase (events where poems were written and read by two competing groups) or other events, objects or clothes from literature.
『万葉集』においては、「みやび」と訓読み歴史が振られ、「好き心」などの意味も有したが、平安時代には歌合などの行事に用いる故事や文芸作品に由来する作り物や衣装などの意味で用いられた。