In a broad sense, the term refers to temples for which the imperial court or provincial government offices provided the construction and maintenance costs as well as other funds, and in a narrow sense refers to temples that were self-managed but for which jikifu (a vassal household allotted to courtier, shrines and temples) and cultivated land ownership rights (the right to hold a manor) were provided by the state.
広義では、朝廷または国衙が伽藍の造営・維持のための費用その他を拠出している寺院を指し、狭義では食封や墾田保有権（荘園私有の権利）を国家から与えられて、運営が行われている寺院のことを指す。