The major figures involved were Jakuen, Gikai, Gien, and Giin, all of whom claimed the right to serve as abbot of Eihei-ji.
The obscure term sōron (相論, a translation of the Sanskrit laksana) may have been a euphemism for a third-generation schism.
Gien (義演) was eventually decided to be the rightful third abbot of Eihei-ji, but he failed to make any other impact on history.
In fact, by the time monastic histories were compiled, nobody remembered anything about Gien other than his role in the power struggle.
His disciple Kenzei elaborated on the claim, saying that after the death of Ejō, Gien occupied the abbacy by fiat while Gikai was in the city of Kamakura.