According to the "Suwa Daimyōjin Ekotoba", the periodic rebuilding (造営 "zōei") of structures (every six years) in the Upper and Lower Shrines such as the 'treasure halls' or "hōden" (宝殿) where the shrines' "mikoshi" are kept was decreed to be a 'perpetual duty' (永代の課役 "eidai no kayaku") of the whole province of Shinano, with the inhabitants of the various districts of the province responsible for organizing the event. Such was indeed the case until the shrines experienced a period of decline during the Sengoku period.