The book chronicles TAIRA no Masakado's downward spiral from intra-family strife to full-fledged rebellion against the state, also depicting his final moments and death and even beyond, recording as it does the so-called "message from the underworld" he is said to have sent after his death from hell.
平将門が一族の私闘から国家への反逆に走って最後に討ち取られるまでと、死後に地獄から伝えたという｢冥界消息｣が記されている。