In the light of ancient belief in kotodama (soul or power of language), it may be explained that one with magically stronger kotodama could win in a poetry contest and dominate his/her opponent while the other one who lost the contest had to submit himself/herself to the opponent.
古代の言霊信仰の観点からは、ことばうたを掛け合うことにより、呪的言霊の強い側が歌い勝って相手を支配し、歌い負けた側は相手に服従したのだ、と説かれる。