In the dispute Saicho attacked the opponent by using fiery expressions and as an example in "Shugo-kokkai-sho" Saicho called Tokuitsu who was the focus of criticism in a pejorative manner, 'sojikisha' (people who have a superficial knowledge and eat humbly), 'hobosha' (people who disparage the dharma), 'hokuensha' (people who turn the shafts of gissha (ox-drawn carriage) or horse-drawn buggy to the north even though they go to go to the south because he cannot understand the direction) and never called Tokuitsu by his real name.
論争において最澄は、しばしば非常に激烈な表現を用いて論敵を攻撃しており、たとえば『守護国界章』において最澄は、非難の対象である徳一のことを「麁食者（そじきしゃ。粗末な食べ方をする者、半可通のこと）」「謗法者（ほうぼうしゃ。賢しらに法を曲げる者）」「北轅者（ほくえんしゃ。南に行こうとして牛車・馬車の轅（ながえ）を北に向ける者。方角もわきまえぬ者）」などの蔑称で呼び、本名の徳一で呼ぶことは一切ない。