Initially, the number of shuto of Kofuku-ji Temple was determined as 20 by the Daijokanpu (official documents issued by Daijokan, Grand Council of State), and they were put in charge of the assistance of betto (the superior of a temple) and Sango (three monastic positions with management roles at a temple) (kanpu-shuto).
本来同寺の衆徒は太政官符によって20名と定められ、別当や三綱の補佐にあたることになっていた（官符衆徒）。