While in the course of spreading Buddhism the idea emerged that 'Murasaki Shikibu, who wrote fantasies of love affairs and caused many people to become misled, must have been fallen into Hell (Buddhism),' and the rite called the 'Buddhist ceremony for Murasaki Shikibu's soul' was often held in order to save her.
その一方、仏教が浸透していく中で、「色恋沙汰の絵空事を著し多くの人を惑わした紫式部は地獄(仏教)に堕ちたに違いない」という考えが生まれ、「源氏供養」と称した紫式部の霊を救済する儀式がたびたび行われた。