After the four Fujiwara brothers died one after another in 737 because of an epidemic of smallpox, TACHIBANA no Moroe, who was from the Imperial Family, assumed control of the government by making SHIMOTSUMICHI no Makibi (later KIBI no Makibi) and the monk Genbo participate in the government.
その藤原四兄弟が737年（天平9年）に天然痘の流行で相次いで死亡すると、皇族出身の橘諸兄が下道真備（のちの吉備真備）や僧玄ボウを参画させて政権を担った。