Hojoe as a Buddhist ritual is believed to have began with Chinese Tendai Sect founder Zhiyi who, in light of the story of Rusui choja was saddened by the sight of fishermen discarding small fish, sold his possessions to buy these fish and set them free.
仏教儀式としての放生会は、中国天台宗の開祖智ギは、この流水長者の本生譚によって、漁民が雑魚を捨てている様子を見て憐れみ、自身の持ち物を売っては魚を買い取って放生池に放したことに始まるとされる。