ðə fˈɔːɹm ɪvˈɑːlvd ˌaʊɾəv lˈɛktʃɚz ˌɔn hɪstˈɔːɹɪkəl ɔːɹ lˈɪɾɚɹˌɛɹi tˈɑːpɪks ɡˈɪvən tə hˈaɪɹˈæŋkɪŋ nˈoʊbəlz ʌvðə hˈaɪən pˈiəɹɪəd, tʃˈeɪndʒɪŋ ˌoʊvɚ ðə sˈɛntʃɚɹiz təbi ɐdˈɑːptᵻd baɪ ðə dʒˈɛnɚɹəl sˈæmjʊɹɹˌaɪ klˈæs ænd ᵻvˈɛntʃuːəli baɪ kˈɑːmənɚz, ænd ᵻvˈɛntʃuːəli, baɪ ðɪ ˈɛnd ʌvðɪ ˈiːdoʊ pˈiəɹɪəd, dᵻklˈaɪnɪŋ ɪn fˈeɪvɚɹ ʌv nˈuː tˈaɪps ʌv ˌɛntɚtˈeɪnmənt ænd stˈɔːɹɪtˌɛlɪŋ sˈʌtʃ ɐz nˈænɪwəbˈʊʃi.
The form evolved out of lectures on historical or literary topics given to high-ranking nobles of the Heian period, changing over the centuries to be adopted by the general samurai class and eventually by commoners, and eventually, by the end of the Edo period, declining in favor of new types of entertainment and storytelling such as naniwa-bushi.