It was extremely popular and influenced a number of following collections beginning with the 1219 text Zoku Kojidan and Uji Shūi Monogatari.
[4] One setsuwa included in the Kojidan was of a woman who committed adultery with the bishop (sōjō (僧正) Ninkai and gave birth to a boy.
Out of fear that the relationship with Ninkai would be discovered, the mother let the infant drink mercury, thinking that if the child survived, he would not be able to have sexual intercourse, which was forbidden to monks.
The story illustrated that while the mother's behavior was unacceptable, Ninkai, who was at the highest rank of official monk, was guilty of breaking a precept of Buddhism.
Japanese historian Kenji Matsuo suggests that this was noted because homosexual relationships were common in monk communities.