Dochu himself was a disciple of Ganjin and a Buddhist priest in Ritsu sect, but he lived in Togoku maybe because he had a relationship with Shimotsuke Yakushi-ji Temple which had Kaidan (Buddhist ordination platform) and he had many disciples across a wide range.
道忠自身は鑑真の弟子で、律宗の僧侶であったが、戒壇が設けられた下野薬師寺との関連か東国に住し、広く弟子を持つ僧侶であった。