He died not long after the death of the second consort of the Emperor, Sonshi, there were rumors that his death was from a curse of monks who were promised, by the Emperor, to be given the head priest position of the Tendai sect of Buddhism which came to nothing, or that it was due to the supernatural power of the Cloistered Emperor Gotoba gained from a pious life.
その崩御が中宮竴子の死から間もない時期だったため、かつて天皇から天台座主の地位を約束されたものの反故にされた僧の怨霊の祟りだとか、後鳥羽法皇の生霊のなせる怪異であるなどと噂されたといわれる。