In view of the above, it has been sometimes said that a succession of the Goshiki Fudo legends including a tale of Tenkai and kekkai were created in recent years; however, it has been also pointed out that such stories were told as gossip (urban legend) irrespective of historical facts during the Edo Period.
以上のような背景から、天海の結界に始まる一連の五色不動伝説は近年作られたものと言われることもあるが、一方で江戸時代にも噂話（都市伝説）として史実とは別に語られていた可能性も指摘されている。