He was in rivalry with ABE no Seimei who was considered as the founder of Onmyodo (way of Yin and Yang; occult divination system based on the Taoist theory of the five elements), and because he was defeated by Seimei in a fight using shikigami (fierce god which behaves in accordance with Onmyoji, who were masters of Yin and Yang), he was deported to Harima Province.
陰陽道の祖とされる安倍晴明とライバル関係にあり、式神対決で晴明に敗れ、播磨国へ追放された。