However, since the Kamakura bakufu (Japanese feudal government headed by a shogun) had established the jito (estate stewards), who held the right to judge criminal cases, the authority of the shomuken and honjo themselves eroded; and further, as the cases of 'Ukeoi shoen, ' which was the contract system in which the shoen owners entrusted the shomu to Shugo and Jito (military governor and estate steward) or to the locally influential individuals in return for the exemption of the payment of the certain amount of nengu (land tax), increased during the period of the Northern and Southern Courts (Japan), the shomuken virtually lost its substance.
だが、鎌倉幕府によって地頭が設置されて検断権を掌握し、更に在地勢力に発言権の高まりとともに本所及び荘務権そのものが衰退し、南北朝時代(日本)に守護請・地頭請あるいは在地の有力者などに一定額の年貢納入義務を引き換えに荘務を請負わせる「請負荘園」の増加によって荘務権は有名無実化することになる。