A History of the Japanese Performing Arts' states that the history of heikyoku can be traced back to a vision-impaired monk attending a ceremony to consecrate a newly made Buddhist image which was held in Daibutsu-den Hall (the Great Buddha hall) of Todai-ji Temple.
平曲の発生として、東大寺大仏殿の開眼供養の盲目僧まで遡ることが｢日本芸能史」等で説かれている。