Even when the Ritsuryo system (a system of centralized government based on the ritsuryo codes) was established in the late seventh century and rice fields were integrated into Kubunden (rice fields allotted to people by the central government) under the Handen Shuju no ho Law (the law of rice field allotment system), Shinden and Jiden (rice fields owned by temples) were exempted from the law.
7世紀後半に律令制が整備され、田地が口分田などの班田収授法の体系に組み込まれていっても、神田（および仏教寺院の運営にあてる寺田）のみは、班田の対象外とされた。