After the peak period of Fujiwara-kyo (the Fujiwara Palace; the ancient capital of Fujiwara), the center of political and general affairs had gradually shifted from the chodoin to the kanga (government office) around them, and by the time of Heian-kyo (the ancient capital of Japan in current Kyoto), the scale of the chodoin had been reduced; as such, the chodoin came to be used mainly for rituals and ceremonies of the Imperial Court such as Choga (New Year's greetings or well-wishes offered by retainers to the Emperor), enthronement and a banquet.
藤原京の頃を頂点として、次第に政事庶務の中心が朝堂院から周辺官衙に移っていき、平安京の頃にはその規模は縮小され、朝賀や即位、饗宴など、主に朝廷の盛典、儀礼に用いられるようになった。