It is believed that the first junsatsushi were designated as early as in 634 in the Shoto period (in early Tang), which consisted of 13 'shodo chucchoku taishi' (literally, a traveling commissioner in charge of promoting and downgrading one's office and rank based on the presence or absence of his achievements), one of which was a 'kan fuzoku shi' (literally, an inspector to supervise local customs).
その始まりは、早くも初唐の貞観(唐)8年（634年）に、諸道黜陟大使（一名、観風俗使）13名が任命されたのが、それであるとされる。