According to the book of Emperor Suinin in "Nihonshoki" (Chronicles of Japan), NOMI no Sukune suggested the Emperor to take clay and form the shapes of men and horses instead of burying dead people who followed their lord to the grave in an imperial mausoleum of Princess Hibasu, which was defined as the origin of the Haniwa.
『日本書紀』垂仁紀には、野見宿禰（のみのすくね）が日葉酢媛命の陵墓へ殉死者を埋める代わりに土で作った人馬を立てることを提案したとあり、これを埴輪の起源とする。