on this occasion , vassals of the hojo clan held a discussion for more than a month whether to continue the war (a pro-war party ) or to surrender (a pro-surrender party ), but did not reach a conclusion , and this situation is believed to be the origin of a proverb , ' odawara hyojo ' (odawara conference , meaning ' an inconclusive discussion ' ), but originally , the phrase indicated a regular conference (hyojo ) held monthly by hojo vassals . 俗にこの際、一月以上に渡り、北条家家臣団の抗戦派と降伏派によって繰り広げられた議論が小田原評定の語源になったと言われているが、本来は北条家臣団が定期的（概ねの期間において毎月）に行っていた評定を呼ぶものである。
