In June of 769, YUGE no Kiyohito, who was a younger brother of Dokyo and was Dazai no sochi (Governor-General of the Dazai-fu offices) and SUGE no Asomaro, who was Dazai no Kanzukasa (Head Shinto Priest of Kyushu, stationed in Dazaifu), reported an oracle from Usa Hachiman-gu Shrine to the Empress Shotoku, stating that 'if Dokyo ascends to the Imperial Throne, the world will be in peace'; Dokyo himself wanted to ascend the Imperial Throne (Shoku Nihongi [Chronicle of Japan Continued] Botsuden).
神護景雲3年（769年）5月、道鏡の弟で大宰帥の弓削浄人と大宰主神の習宣阿曾麻呂（すげのあそまろ）は「道鏡を皇位に付ければ天下は太平になる」という内容の宇佐八幡宮の神託を奏上し、自ら皇位に就くことを望む（続紀没伝）。