On August 23, 749, he ceded the Imperial Throne to his daughter, Imperial Princess Abe (Empress Koken), (according to a theory, the Emperor who called himself "Sanpo no Yakko" (a servant to Sanpo, three treasures of Buddhism: Buddha, sutras and priesthood) entered priesthood at his own discretion and in response to this, the Imperial Court hastily took the procedure of abdication of the Emperor).
天平勝宝元年7月2日（749年8月19日）、娘の阿倍内親王（孝謙天皇）に譲位（一説には自らを「三宝の奴」と称した天皇が独断で出家してしまい、それを受けた朝廷が慌てて退位の手続を取ったともいわれる）。