According to the book on noh theory, "Fushikaden" (The Flowering Spirit) by Zeami, Kawakatsu SO who was the originator of sarugaku (form of theatre popular in Japan during the 11th to 14th centuries) who served Prince Shotoku was given a mask that the prince himself had made, and Menreiki is said to have been depicted based on this anecdote.
世阿弥による能の理論書『風姿花伝』では、太子に仕えた猿楽の祖・泰河勝が太子の作による面を与えられたとあり、面霊気はこの逸話をもとに描かれたといわれている。