Due to above, in recent years there was a strong theory that Emperor's daughter was appointed to Saigu and Saiin to prove that the Imperial Family did not neglect their religious service at Ise-jingu Shrine and Kamo-jinja Shrines.
このため、伊勢神宮・賀茂神社の祭祀を天皇家が怠ってないことを表明するため、天皇実娘を斎宮、斎院に任命したとする説が近年有力である。