According to 'Engi Danjodai Shiki' (The Rule of the Board of Censors) of the early Heian Period, there were many rules: 'Waistbands with white gems can be worn by those of Third Rank or higher or sangi (councilors) of the Fourth Rank, waistbands with tortoiseshell, agate, rhinoceros horn (said to be rhinoceros horn, but bull's horns were usually used), ivory, sharkskin (said to be sharkskin, but the skin of a ray was often used for costumes) or rosewood can be worn by officials of the Fifth Rank for everyday use, stones of teizuri, which are stones of Kishu (now Wakayama Prefecture) origin on which patterns were engraved, can be worn by sangi (councilors) or higher, and sujibori (carving thin lines with sharp implements) on which gold or sliver is stamped, and Chinese belts can be worn by officials of Fifth Rank or higher.'
平安時代前期の「延喜弾正台式」の記述によれば、「白玉の腰帯は三位以上か四位の参議まで着用可能、玳瑁（タイマイ/鼈甲）・瑪瑙・斑犀（サイの角とあるが普通は牛の角で代用）・象牙・沙魚皮（サメ皮の事だが装束ではエイ皮を指すことが多い）・紫檀は五位通用、紀州産の石に模様を彫ったもの、定摺の石は参議以上、金銀を捺した筋彫りや唐の帯は五位以上。