As shown by a description in Gishiwajinden (literally, an 'Account of the Wa' in "The History of Wei Dynasty") of Sangokushi (Three Kingdom Saga), that more than 100 Nuhi were buried together as martyr to duty when Himiko (first known ruler of Japan) died, and another description that slaves (or captives; there is another theory) called Seiko were brought to the Wei dynasty (Three States Period) as a tribute, Nuhi itself already existed at least in the period of Yamatai Koku (Yamatai Kingdom).
奴婢自体は、三国志(歴史書)魏志倭人伝に卑弥呼が亡くなったとき100人以上の奴婢を一緒に殉葬したと言う記述や、生口と呼ばれる奴隷（または捕虜。異説もある）を魏(三国)に朝貢したと言う記述が見られるように、少なくとも邪馬台国の時代には既に奴婢は存在していた。