In an anecdote from the "Heike monogatari" (The Tale of the Heiki) (chapter four, Kio), Kio enraged Munemori by returning the horse after shaving its mane and tail and branding "formerly Nanryo, now TAIRA no Munemori Nyudo" on its rear; this was in retaliation for Munemori having insulted MINAMOTO no Nakatsuna, the legitimate son of Yorimasa, over his horse.
その際、先立って頼政の嫡男源仲綱が愛馬のことで宗盛に辱めを受けていたことの報復として、馬のたてがみと尾の毛をそり、尻に「昔は何両、今は平宗盛入道」の焼印をして突き返し、宗盛を激怒せしめたという逸話が知られる（『平家物語』四・競）。