Emperor Shirakawa initially wished to be buried after his death, and often mentioned this to his people, but he suddenly ordered to be cremated, when he learnt that the body of FUJIWARA no Moromichi, who was buried, was in the danger of being humiliated by monk soldiers of Kofuku-ji Temple, who were known to be opposed to Moromichi when Moromichi was alive, and planned to attack and open Moromichi's grave.
また、白河法皇は当初、自身の死後は土葬されることを望み、たびたび周囲の者にその意向を伝えていたが、同様に土葬された藤原師通が、生前に彼と対立していた興福寺の僧兵が報復としてその墓を暴き、遺体を辱めんと計画していたことを知り、自身も後世に同様な仕打ちを受けるのを嫌い、急遽火葬にするように命じたという。