On the ground that there is a legend in Japan that says a divine spirit dwells in a camellia, Ushioni may be interpreted as an incarnation of a deity, and in some customs people respect it as something that clears evil spirits away.
日本ではツバキには神霊が宿るという伝承があることから、牛鬼を神の化身とみなす解釈もあり、悪霊をはらう者として敬う風習も存在する。