A document-based principle, attaching importance to the format of documents and procedures was introduced, which gave regulations such as using only the era name in the documents handled by government offices, affixing seals, accepting only the documents created in accordance with the predetermined format, and so on.
役所で取り扱う文書には元号を使うこと、印鑑を押すこと、定められた形式に従って作成された文書以外は受理しないこと等々の、文書と手続きの形式を重視した文書主義が導入された。