According to Gikeiki, Emperor Goshirakawa had 100 Buddhist priests chant sutras at the Shinsen-en Garden in Kyoto for prayer for rainfall because of a long spell of drought, but since the priests' prayer did not work, the Emperor invited 100 beautiful shirabyoshi dancers to pray for rainfall.
義経記によると、日照りが続いたので、後白河天皇は神泉苑の池で100人の僧に読経させたが効験がなかったので、100人の容顔美麗な白拍子に舞わせ雨を祈らせた。