According to legend, Tokuhon roamed around the provinces on a cow, medicine bag dangling from his neck and, regardless of the treatment he provided he refused to take more than 16 mon (mon=old minor unit of currency/penny), or possibly 18 mon (according to some sources), lead him to be referred to as 'Doctor 16 pennies.'
伝承に拠れば彼は首から薬袋を提げ、牛の背に横になって諸国を巡り、どんな治療を行っても報酬として16文（18文ともいう）以上の金額を受け取らなかったと伝わり、「十六文先生」とも称されたらしい。