These remains were proof that around the late ninth century, the kokushi (provincial governors) acquired greater authority and significant power and began to administrate like a Zuryo (the head of the provincial governors) in their actual practice, and the effect of this fact upon the Gunji was a dramatic reduction in power and authority so the Gunga system declined in Japan.
9世紀後半頃、国司の権限が大幅に強化され、受領化するとともに、郡司の権限は大幅に縮小され、全国的に郡衙が衰退したことがわかってきている。