From the end of Edo period to the Meiji Period, authorization of the Imperial mausoleum led to stimulate momentum among common people to make known the holy place with historic associations to the public; and in February, 1888, Narisato NISHIUCHI, a member of Nara Prefectural Assembly presented a proposal to Minister of Home Affairs, Aritomo YAMAGATA about preservation of remains of the Imperial Palace (initially only to preserve monuments).
幕末から明治には、天皇陵の治定をきっかけに在野からも聖蹟顕彰の機運が高まり、1888年（明治21年）2月に奈良県県会議員の西内成郷が内務大臣(日本)山縣有朋に対し、宮跡保存を建言した（当初の目的は建碑のみ）。