According to the legend, the mikoto shut down an evil bird, who long troubled the people in the territory, and the three dogs he accompanied ate up its wings, and therefore, the place used to be called 'Hakui' (eat wings).
命はこの地で領民を苦しめた悪鳥を射落とし、その鳥の羽を命が連れていた三匹の犬が喰ったといい、古くは｢羽喰｣と称したという。