Emperor Kanmu, who was considering the establishment of a new Imperial Court, paid attention to and supported Saicho, who led the Tendai sect, towards a new religion based on national protection and intentionally diverted the Nanto Buddhism temples as mentioned above.
新王朝の建設を意識していた桓武天皇にとって、新たな鎮護国家の宗教として最澄の天台宗に注目・支援することで従前の南都仏教を牽制する意図もあった。