There are several theories for its origin: one is that ukiyoe (Japanese woodblock prints) artists started to make it in the Edo period; the other is that it was started to be used in the O-oku (the inner halls of Edo Castle where the wife of the Shogun and her servants reside); or that it was invented by Kenshoin (Kazutoyo YAMAUCHI's lawful wife) in the late Sengoku period (period of warring states).
発祥は諸説あるが、江戸時代に浮世絵師が作り始めたとも、同時代に大奥で使われ始めたという説、戦国時代(日本)後期に山内一豊の妻、見性院(山内一豊室)により発明されたという説など、様々な説がある。