Before the Edo period, performers of Sarugaku had to be affiliated to one of the theatres and because of this, unlike the protagonists (shite) today, they could not choose freely among the three key roles from their favorite sect.
江戸時代以前、猿楽の役者たちはいずれかの座に所属して活動していた為、現在のようにシテ方が自由に三役を好きな流派から選んで演能をすることは無かった。