The word was originally one of the titles for biwa-playing minstrels who played Heikyoku (a narrative which features the Tale of the Heike playing Biwa music): 'Kengyo' (the highest title of the official ranks within the Todo-za), 'Betto' (superintendent), 'Koto' (the third title of the official ranks within the Todo-za), and 'Zato.'
元々は平曲を演奏する琵琶法師の称号として呼ばれた「検校（けんぎょう）」、「別当（べっとう）」、「勾当（こうとう）」、「座頭（ざとう）」に由来する。