During the Edo period, the tale of Yoshitsune had been developed as a theme of Sarugaku (present Noh) and Kabuki and became popular enough to form an independent field called 'Yoshitsune-mono' (Yoshitsune story), however, in the course of this process his profile had been glamorized and the typical image of a handsome and noble young Yoshitsune was established.
江戸時代には猿楽（現能）や歌舞伎の題材として義経物語が「義経物」と呼ばれる分野にまで成長し、人々の人気を博したが、そこでの義経は容貌を美化され、美男子の御曹子義経の印象が定着していった。