The Imperial Family and aristocrats at that time were interested in Mikkyo, which valued practical benefits in this world or "pure land" teachings, as well as Jodo-kyo (Buddhist invocation), which promised reincarnation in the Land-of-Bliss/Pure Land of the next world, instead of the Tendai Doctrine, which Saicho had seriously studied.
当時の皇族や貴族は、最澄が本格的に修学した天台教学よりも、むしろ現世利益も重視する密教、あるいは来世での極楽浄土への生まれ変わりを約束する浄土教（念仏）に関心を寄せた。