Occasionally, the period in which Gikai was appointed as the third chief priest of Eihei-ji Temple through his resign is regarded as the first period, the period in which Gikai was reappointed and again resigned is regarded as the second period, and the period in which a conflict arose in the later years as to whether to accept Gikai as the third head priest is regarded as the third period.
永平寺3世義介の就任から退任までを1期、義介の再任と再退任までを2期、後に義介を3世と認めるか否かで生じた対立を3期とする見方がある。