This transition happened when the Great Buddha of Tōdai-ji (東大寺, "Eastern Great Temple") was being built and recorded in the era of the "First Year of "Tenpyō-shōhō" (天平勝宝 "Heavenly Peace and Victorious Treasure")" under the reign of Emperor Kōken in 749 AD, an oracle was declared by Hachiman to a senior Shinto senior priest (禰宜 "negi") and nun from Usa Shrine to proceed to the capital (in Nara) that Hachiman would cooperate in the construction of a "Great Buddha" dedicated to him. From this recognition Hachiman was syncretised into Buddhism early onwards.