In an imperial edict issued at the time of her mother Empress Genmei's abdication as recorded in "Shoku Nihongi" (Chronicles of Japan Continued), she was described as being gracious, calm, glamorous and beautiful.
｢続日本紀」にある元明天皇譲位の際の詔には｢天の縦せる寛仁、沈静婉レンにして、華夏載せ佇り」とあり「慈悲深く落ち着いた人柄であり、あでやかで美しい」と記されている。