According to "Genpei Seisuiki," (the History of the Rise and Fall of the Genji and Heike), when Motomori tried to cross the Uji River on horseback, he was haunted by the vengeful spirit of FUJIWARA no Yorinaga and drowned to death.
『源平盛衰記』によると、宇治川を騎馬で渡河しようとした際、藤原頼長の怨霊に祟られ溺死したとされる。