The right for the bakufu to investigate wanted people, called 'Kendanken,' could not be enforced within large temple grounds and therefore many people who were escaping the war such as MINAMOTO no Yoshitsune and Emperor Godaigo sought protection under the temples.
また、幕府が罪人を捜査する「検断権」も大寺社内には及ばず、そのため源義経や後醍醐天皇など、戦乱に追われた人々の多くが寺社にかくまわれた。