In the medieval period Shinto amalgamated with Onmyodo (Yin-Yang divination) and esoteric Buddhist teachings, and it was believed that by saying these words one could obtain merit similar to those obtainable from the yin-yang spell or Buddhist scriptures.
中世には陰陽道や密教と結びつき、陰陽道の呪言や仏教の経典のように、唱えるだけで功得が得られると考えられるようになった。