However, there is a view of considering that his body was cremated, based on the following descriptions: "Shoku Nihon Koki" describes that an Inzen (a decree from the retired Emperor) that Emperor Junna sent to the Mt. Koya included an item related the cremation of Kukai's body, and a letter Jichie, To-ji choja at that time, sent to Qinglong Temple included a description that could be considered that Kukai's body had been cremated.
しかしながら、『続日本後紀』に記された淳和天皇が高野山に下した院宣に空海の荼毘に関する件が見えること、空海入定直後に東寺長者の実慧が青竜寺へ送った手紙の中に空海を荼毘に付したと取れる記述があることなど、いくつかの根拠を示して火葬されたとする説もある。