The interests of the Tato (wealthy farmer) farmer class, who were controlled and deprived of the control of the Todai-ji Temple and Kokuga, and Masamori, who wished to enlarge and stabilize his property, coincided and led to the creation of the shoen.
立荘の背景には、東大寺や国衙の支配と収奪を逃れようとする田堵農民層と、自らの所領の拡大・安定を狙った正盛の間に利害の一致があったと考えられる。