The origin of the Kyo top is said to be the fact that court ladies wound twist the ends of kimono (Japanese traditional clothing) around bamboo sticks to make spinning tops, and that they would amuse themselves by spinning them indoors.
女官が着物の端切れを竹の棒を芯にして巻き付け、独楽状にして室内で回して遊んでいたのが京こまの起源といわれる。