Around August 769, Kantsukasa (ritual official of Dazaifu [governmental office with jurisdiction over Kyushu, Iki, and Tsushima] under the Ritsuryo System), SUGE no Asomaro, who was also holding the position of Shinto priest at Usa-jingu Shrine, informed Empress Shotoku that he received an oracle that if the Empress would give the authority to Buddhist monk Dokyo's succession to the Imperial Throne, the universal peace would be secured.
7月頃、宇佐神宮の神官を兼ねていた大宰府の主神（かんつかさ）、習宜阿曾麻呂（すげのあそまろ）が宇佐八幡神の神託として、道鏡を皇位に就かせれば天下太平になる、と称徳天皇へ奏上する。