According to popular theory, "以" does not have a particular meaning, although due to the mention of "because she died" or "having already died," as well as the preceding sentence, "拜假難升米 爲檄告喻之" ("Nashime took an Imperial Rescript and a yellow flag, then issued a manifesto"), is thought that Himiko had already died by this point.
通説では、「以」に深い意味はないとするか、「死するをもって」つまり「死んだので」墓が作られた、あるいは、「すでに死す」と読み、直前に書かれている「拜假難升米爲檄告喻之」（難升米が詔書・黄憧を受け取り檄で告諭した）の時点で卑弥呼はすでに死んでいた、と解釈する。