Cloistered Emperor Goshirakawa, who felt concern about this destruction, asked monks to cooperate in the reconstruction of Todai-ji Temple through kanjin, and in 1181 he appointed Chogen to the position of Dai Kanjin shoku in order to lead the monks in their activities.
これを憂慮した後白河法皇は、勧進聖らに東大寺再建のための勧進活動への協力を求め、養和元年（1181年）、その責任者として重源を大勧進職（だいかんじんしょく）に任命した。