The shinobue is not thought to have been created in Japan but is rather thought to have developed from the ryuteki flute imported from China as a yokobue (transverse flute) for gagaku (ancient Japanese court dance and music) and simplified as it spread throughout the common people.
「篠笛」は日本で独自に考案されたものではなく、雅楽の横笛として中国大陸から伝わった「龍笛」が庶民の間にも広まって簡素化したものであろうと考えられている。