The government built large temples in Heijokyo and, in 741, the Emperor Shomu issued an imperial edict to each Province and made them build kokubunji and kokubunniji.
政府は平城京内に大寺院をたて、聖武天皇は、741年（天平13）に全国に詔して、国分寺や国分尼寺を全国に建てさせた。