This kanpu has conventionally been interpreted as having been issued to have TAIRA no Yoshikane, TAIRA no Sadamori and MIMAMOTO no Mamoru subjugate Masakado; however, because inconsistencies arose between the facts preceding and following the event, another theory, holding that Yoshikane and others had angered the Imperial Court when Yoshikane and Sadamori attacked Ikuha no mimaya, which officially belong to Meryo (the section taking care of imperial horses), and that Masakado had received the kanpu as an order to subdue them, has become prominent.
従来、この官符は平良兼、平貞盛、源護らに対して出された将門追討の官符であると解釈されてきたが、前後の事実関係とのつながりとの食い違いが生じることから、これを公的には馬寮に属する常羽御厩を良兼・貞盛らが攻撃してしまったことによって良兼らが朝廷の怒りを買い、彼らへの追討の官符を将門が受けたと解釈する説が有力となっている。