To abide by the last wishes of Emperor Tenmu, she embarked on the construction of Fujiwara-kyo, which was the first large-scale capital city in Japan, and continued with streamlining Ritsuryo Code as well as the compilation project of a national history, including the establishment of Asuka Kiyomihara Code with reference to Tang.
天武の遺志を継ぎ、日本初の本格的都城である藤原京の建設を進めたほか、飛鳥浄御原令の制定など、唐を参考にした律令の整備・国史編纂事業などを継続した。