Its origin as a piece of cloth to wrap up things is traced back as far as the Nara period and there remains one which was used to wrap up the costume for Bugaku (traditional Japanese court music accompanied by dancing) among the Shoso-in treasures.
物を包む布としての起源は奈良時代に遡ることができ、正倉院宝物の中に舞楽の衣装包みとして用いられたものが残っている。