It was put up in order to show a boundary of the precincts of temples/shrines or that of the land where shoen (manor), which accomplished ichienshihai (complete rule over the land), could exert its exclusive right.
寺社の境内の境界や一円支配が確立した荘園の排他的権利の及ぶ範囲を示す境界線として立てられた。