Especially Todai-ji Temple which was constracted at the wish of the Emperor Shomu and since then had been revered by successive emperors as a symbol of polity for nation protection, and Kofuku-ji Temple built for praying Fujiwara clan's glory, rebelled against this, relying on military power of armed organization called armed monks which was originally organized for self-defense by Buddhist monk group called as Daishu, each with authorities of Imperial family and Sekkan-ke (line of regents and advisers) in the background.
特に聖武天皇の発願によって建立されて、以後鎮護国家体制の象徴的存在として歴代天皇の崇敬を受けてきた東大寺と藤原氏の氏寺であった興福寺は、それぞれ皇室と摂関家の権威を背景と大衆と呼ばれる僧侶集団が元来自衛を目的として結成していた僧兵と呼ばれる武装組織の兵力を恃みとしてこれに反抗していた。