In "Keiso Saijiki" written during the period of the Northern and Southern Courts (China), it was stated that the Cowherd and the Weaver meet on July 7 and on that night, women prayed for the progress of sewing by threading colorful threads into the eyes of seven needles and setting up offerings in the garden.
その後、南北朝時代(中国)の『荊楚歳時記』には7月7日、牽牛と織姫が会合する夜であると明記され、さらに夜に婦人たちが7本の針の穴に美しい彩りの糸を通し、捧げ物を庭に並べて針仕事の上達を祈ったと書かれている。