Among classical Japanese scholars, there are two theories about 'Hokkyo Gyohen' in "Shinkokin Wakashu": one is that the Gyohen was onshi (a low-ranking Shinto priest), who was from Kumano and a shaso of Kumano-hayatama-taisha Shrine, while the other is that it was daisojo (a Buddhist priest of the highest order), Gyohen (1181-1264), one of the four chief priests of To-ji Temple, who did remarkable work during the mid-Kamakura period.
国文学界には、『新古今和歌集』の「法橋行遍」を、熊野出身で熊野速玉大社の社僧・御師を家業とする行遍とする説と、鎌倉時代中期に活躍した東寺四長者の1人である大僧正行遍（1181年-1264年）とする説がある。