However, the Tendai sect had an advantage in that they had successors such as Ennin, Enchin (814 – 891) and so on and came to heighten their status by becoming Mikkyo with the Shingon sect, while Hosso sect of Buddhism did not have quality successors which gradually led to their decline.
しかし、天台宗が円仁・円珍（814年-891年）らの後継者に恵まれ、密教化を経て真言宗とともに平安時代にその地位を高めていったのに対し、法相宗の側はこれといった後継者を得ず、次第に衰勢に傾いていく。