In "Heike Monogatari" (The tale of the Heike), there is a tale that FUJIWARA no Moromichi, chief adviser to the Emperor, died of punishment from the God of the Hiyoshi-taisha Shrine because he had attacked Daishu (The monks residing in the zendo) of the Enryaku-ji Temple in ancient times (in those days when syncretism of Shinto and Buddhism was being established, the Enryaku-ji Temple on Mt.Hiei and the Hiyoshi-taisha Shrine on its foot were regarded as the same entity and the Butsubachi caused by his attack against priests was given in the form of punishment from the god of the Hiyoshi-taisha Shrine).
『平家物語』にも昔関白藤原師通が延暦寺の大衆(仏教)を攻撃したために日吉大社の神罰を受けて死亡したという説話を載せている（神仏習合が定着しつつあった当時は、延暦寺と麓の日吉大社は一体のものとしてとらえられ、僧侶を攻撃した仏罰が日吉大社の神罰の形式で下されたと解された）。