Following the death of the Emperor Konoe during the Heian period at the time when Cloistered Emperor Toba attempted to assist his nephew Imperial Prince Shigehito to ascend the throne, the prince's father, Retired Emperor Sutoku, ordered FUJIWARA no Yorinaga to perform a curse at Atago-jinja Shrine and rumors spread that it was this curse that killed the emperor.
平安時代に近衛天皇が亡くなった後に、院政を行っていた鳥羽法皇が天皇の甥である重仁親王を擁立しようとしたところ、親王の父である崇徳上皇が藤原頼長に命じて愛宕神社で呪詛を行わせて天皇を呪い殺したという噂が広まった。