HELPING THE OTHERS REALIZE THE ADVANTAGES OF IMPERIAL 710

Especially, the emphasis on Buddhism undercut the family’s influence. At the conclusion of the 8th century, the strong priest-premier Dōkyō rose to the posture of undisputed hegemony underneath Shōmu’s daughter, who reigned two times, given that the empress Kōken and afterwards as Shōtoku; and Fujiwara nobles feared the priestly domination