According to the "Ouchi-shi Okite-gaki (rules set by Mr. Ouchi)," they were called kobo-kai as well as shugo-gai as some used their official powers and force of arms to coerce sales.
『大内氏掟書』によれば、権力や武力を用いて強引に買いあさるために「公方買」「守護買」などとも呼ばれていたことが記されている。