Since the Kara-hashi Bridge of Seta is the only bridge crossing over the Seta River, this bridge was the important point for defending Kyoto, therefore people used to say, "those who command the Kara-hashi Bridge would reign over the whole country of Japan."
瀬田川にかかる唯一の橋であった瀬田の唐橋は京都防衛上の重要地であったことから、古来より「唐橋を制する者は天下を制す」と言われた。