Due to this, Emperor Shotoku, who deeply believed in Buddhism, attempted to allow the monk, Dokyo to succeeded to the throne, (there was another theory) but he failed, Emperor Shotoku died before deciding the successor, and the Imperial line of Emperor Tenmu was decided to discontinue.
そのため、仏教に深く帰依していた称徳は僧道鏡を皇位に付けることを企図した（異説あり）が失敗し、後継を決めないまま称徳は没し、天武皇統が断絶することとなった。