During the Insei period, large temples such as 'Nanto Hokurei' (temples in Nara and Mt. Hiei) became secular and powerful as a feudal lords of shoen (a manor in medieval Japan), taking advantage of Buddhist protection measures stated as above.
院政期には、「南都北嶺」などの大寺院が上述のような仏教保護政策に乗じて、荘園領主として世俗権力化していった。