As suggested by its name, the Law for Preservation of Old Shrines and Temples protected all the constructions and treasures belonging to a targeted shrine or temple, and therefore the national treasures and buildings under special protection designated under the same law might request expenditures from the National Treasury for preservation and repair purposes; this law called for the compilation of a list of candidate properties.
古社寺保存法はその名のとおり社寺所有の建造物および宝物をその対象としており、同法による国宝および特別保護建造物の指定は保存修理等のために国庫から保存金を支出すべき物件のリスト化という意味合いが強かった。