There are several opinions about the origin of Dazai no sochi such as Tsukushi Ohomikotomochi (also known as Tsukushi Taisai) that was the position to supervise the Natsunomiyake family; a kingdom in Kyushu; and Tsukushi Totokufu in the Tang dynasty, but it is commonly accepted that SOGA no Himuka was appointed Tsukushi no sochi, which was the beginning of Dazai no sochi, though Tsukushi no sochi was renamed Tsukushi no Soryo later.
その前身については那津官家の管理者、筑紫大宰、九州王朝説、唐の筑紫都督府など諸説混在するが、通説によれば蘇我日向が筑紫率に任じられたのを嚆矢とし、後に筑紫惣領と改められたとされている。