In the Ritsuryo law, the items on 'Shikisei-ritsu' (Office Penal Laws) defined "kumon as official documents," and the law called Kushiki-ryo (law on state documentary forms in the Yoro Code) was enacted to determine the form and the procedure of the official documents.
律令法においては「職制律」の疏において“公文謂在官文書”と定義され、また「公式令（くしきりょう）」と呼ばれる令が制定されて公文書の様式や手続が定められていた。