Joruri's origin is generally believed to be an artist who preached the blessing of deities and Buddha by narrating "Joruri Junidan Soshi" ("Joruri Monogatari," which is the combination of a love story between Joruri-gozen and Ushiwakamaru and the tale of the miraculous efficacy of Amida-nyorai), a kind of Otogi Zoshi (a collection of fair tales) compiled at the end of the medieval age.
その起源は、中世末期ごろの御伽草子の一種『浄瑠璃十二段草子』（『浄瑠璃物語』。浄瑠璃御前と牛若丸の情話に薬師如来など霊験譚をまじえたもの）を語って神仏の功徳を説いた芸能者にあるとするのが通説である。