One of its earliest usage examples is found in the Manyoshu(Collections of Ten Thousand Leaves): 'As your love towards me has aroused so much jealousy, I am going to perform my ablutions in the river in my hometown Asuka' (vol. 4-626).
用例は万葉集より「君により言の繁きを故郷の明日香の河に禊しにゆく」（巻4-626）