The official certificates were issued by Daijokan (the Grand Council of State) and rendered valid by the signature of an official in charge at Jibusho (the Ministry of Civil Administration) and Genba-ryo (an office in charge of temples and priests and the reception of foreign envoys), or of a Sokan (an official position given to a Buddhist priest by the Imperial Court) like a Sogo (a priest of a managerial post).
発行は太政官が行い、治部省・玄蕃寮の担当者、僧綱（そうごう）等の僧官が署名することで効力を持った。