It is written in Tsurezuregusa (Essays in Idleness; written by Kenko YOSHIDA in the early 14th century) that the shirabyoshi dance originated during Emperor Toba's reign, when Iso no Zenji, dressed in men's white clothing (called suikan) and wearing a sword and a cap, danced for Shinzei (Buddhist monk) to his favorite tunes.
鳥羽天皇の世に、信西（信西）がすぐれた曲を選んで、磯禅師に白い水干に鞘巻をさし、烏帽子の男装で舞わせたのが白拍子の始まりと徒然草にある。