On the other hand, the Heian period poet Saigyo evaluated Saneie as a poet and man of culture however; he was not seen as a worldly person and one to close himself off (according to "Kokon Chomonju," "Notable Tales Old and New").
一方で、西行は歌人・文人としての実家を評価していたが、人物としては世俗的として評価しておらずこれを避けていたという（『古今著聞集』）。