Saigyo once wrote a poem that read, 'Hopefully, I will die in the spring time when cherry blossoms are in full bloom and around the anniversary of Buddha's death in the time of a full moon in February,' and the way he lived his life was true to his wish reflected in that poem whereby winning fame by touching the hearts of as well as striking a chord with FUJIWARA no Teika and Monk Jien in those days.
かつて「願はくは花の下にて春死なん、そのきさらぎの望月のころ」と詠んだ願いに違わなかったとして、その生きざまが藤原定家や僧慈円の感動と共感を呼び当時名声を博した。