Due in part to the influence of the description given in the "Dainihonshi" (the Great History of Japan), it is widely believed that the so-called divine wind arose twice, once during the Mongol invasion of 1274 and again during the Mongol invasion of 1281, but it is only confirmed to have occurred during the 1281 invasion; the most likely explanation for the failure of the 1274 invasion is that the Mongol army withdrew of its own volition due to lack of supplies, and that no violent wind occurred.
従来は『大日本史』の記述の影響などもあり、1274年の元寇文永の役と1281年の元寇弘安の役の二度にわたって起こったと広く信じられていたが、確実なのは弘安の役の時のみで、文永の役の際には補給の不備などから元軍が自ら撤退したものであり、暴風は起こらなかったとする説が有力である。