Mabuchi wrote "Kokuiko" to refute an affirmation by Shundai DAZAI, who succeeded Sorai OGYU's teachings and wrote "Bendosho" (Book on Instruction), which especially blasphemed Shinto and advocated that there was no 'michi' (literally, the "way") in Japan during the reign of Emperor Jimmu and up until the reign of Emperor Kinmei, and that "Shinto" (Way of Gods) was established due to the advent of Confucianism.
荻生徂徠のあとを受けて太宰春台がその著『辯道書』において、特に神道をおとしめて神武天皇から欽明天皇のころまでの日本には、「道」というものがなく、儒教が到来することによって「神道」が成立することになった、という主張を反駁するために『国意考』が書かれた。