Emperor Kazan was commented upon by the people in those days, who said 'the Emperor himself is not so smart but his aids are'; there are many anecdotes in "Okagami (The Great Mirror)" and "Kojidan" describing Emperor Kazan's abnormal behavior.
花山天皇は当世から「内劣りの外めでた」等と評され、乱心の振る舞いを記した説話は『大鏡』『古事談』に多い。