When the empress died in 770, Prince Shirakabe was decided as the Crown Prince; Dokyo was demoted to Shimotsuke Yakushi-ji Temple in Shimotsuke Province.
宝亀元年（770年）に女帝が死去すると、皇太子は白壁王と決定され、道鏡は下野国の下野薬師寺へ左遷（配流）された。