However, some Kokugaku (study of ancient Japanese literature and culture) theories that rose to prominence in the late Edo period asserted that any spiritual phenomenon including shinrei no hyoi (spirit possession) should be considered as inshi jakyo (evil heresies), which led to a negative campaign against shrine maidens themselves, who tended to be linked with such folkways.
ところが、江戸時代後期に勃興した国学の中には、神霊の憑依などの霊的現象を淫祠邪教として否定的に捉える学説が現れるようになり、そのような民間習俗と結びつきやすい巫女そのものに対しても否定的な動きが出始めた。