These simple performances, called lo-di-sao, had all the characteristics of ke-tsai-hsi in a scaled down form. According to historical records, the first actual ke-tsai-hsi was performed in Ilan in northeastern Taiwan.
台灣通史稿人民志禮俗篇記載：「有宜蘭農民名歌仔助，深好音樂，暇時每以民間歌謠，佐以大殼弦，自彈自唱……。