In China, according to chapter 'Shishigo' (bestowment of title to high virtue monks) in the final volume of "Daiso Soshiryaku" (The Essential History of Great-Sung Monks) by Zanning in the beginning of the Northern Sung Dynasty, the origin is when shigo (title for high virtue priest) 'Sanei Daishi' was Imperially bestowed to Unko of east area of Changan and 'Joko Daishi' was to Sotetsu of west area of Changan in discussion in Engyosetsu (延慶節) on December 10, 870, in the reign of Emperor Iso, in the latter half of the Tang Dynasty.
中国では、北宋初の賛寧による『大宋僧史略』巻下「賜師号」によれば、その始まりは、唐の後半、懿宗(唐)皇帝の咸通11年（870年）、旧暦11月14日の延慶節の談論の際に、左街の雲顥に「三慧大師」、右街の僧徹に「浄光大師」の師号を賜った時であるとする。