THE BEST SIDE OF IMPERIAL 710

In particular, the emphasis on Buddhism undercut the spouse and children’s influence. At the conclusion of the 8th century, the potent priest-premier Dōkyō rose into a posture of undisputed hegemony below Shōmu’s daughter, who reigned two times, since the empress Kōken then as Shōtoku; and Fujiwara nobles feared the priestly domination of