The Kofuku-ji Temple was the tutelary temple of the Fujiwara family.@The Kasuga Grand Shrine, originated in 768, enjoyed prosperity in a comparable role as the same family's tutelary shrine. Gradually, the Kofuku-ji Temple came to overwhelm the Todai-ji Temple, as the Fujiwara family came into power. This temple practically began to rule the Kasuga Grand Shrine, since the identity of Buddhism-Shintoism faith was popular in those days.

This temple had mercenaries, which were called esoheifin Japanese. The Kofuku-ji Temple used several thousand esoheifto force its requests on the Court for recognition. Some times more than 7,000 esoheifdemonstrated. One scholar reported thatesoheifheld effective demonstrations 20 times from the middle of the 10th century to the late 14th century.