In ancient times, when an important incident such as Dokyo Incident in which Wake no Kiyomaro went to receive an oracle of Usa-jingu Shrine, or the enthronement of an emperor, Imperial envoys were always dispatched to Usa-jingu Shrine.
道鏡事件で和気清麻呂が宇佐神宮の神託を訊きに行く等、古代において国家の大事や天皇の即位時には宇佐神宮へ勅使が必ず遣わされた。