Although sumo was held among both samurai and ordinary citizens, Sumai no Sechie is thought to have been especially established based off of wrestling performed in the ancient Chinese Court, which was introduced into Japan before Japanese envoys to China during the Sui and the Tang Dynasties were dispatched, and it is also believed that envoys from Balhae who visited Japan multiple times influenced Sumai no Sachie.
武家相撲であり、庶民の相撲であるが、とりわけ「相撲節会」は、古代中国の宮廷で行われた角力が遣隋使・遣唐使の歴史以前にも往来があり、来渤海使も何度も日本へ赴いたなかで影響も推測される。