Dōkyō 

Dōkyō (700 – 772) was a Buddhist monk of the Hossō sect and a prominent political figure in the Nara period.

Dōkyō lived as an ascetic Buddhist monk for several years, practicing meditation and sutras to acquire magical powers. Dōkyō used his magical powers to cure retired Empress Kōken in 761. After that Dōkyō was Kōken’s healer, spiritual adviser, and perhaps, her lover.  Retired Empress Kōken granted Dōkyō important posts and also relied on him for political advice, which did not sit well with Emperor Junnin and Fujiwara no Nakamaro (the power behind the throne). For his opposition, Fujiwara no Nakamaro was exiled, but later returned to lead an unsuccessful rebellion.

As a result of the rebellion by Fujiwara no Nakamaro, Emperor Junnin was forced to abdicate. Kōken returned to the throne taking the name Shōtoku.  Empress Shōtoku appointed Dōkyō as daijō-daijin, giving him power over both civil and religious affairs. In 766, he was given the position of hō-ō, normally a top religious position but it was expanded in 767 to include military authority. During his heyday, Dōkyō did much to spread Buddhism by building temples, imposing Buddhist principles and religion in law and customs, including banning meat and fish at the imperial table. He also reduced the power of the ruling elite, such as the Fujiwara clan. Dōkyō wanted to become emperor after Shōtoku and persuaded an oracle from the Usa Shrine to predict peace if he were emperor.

Not to be outdone, the Fujiwara sent Wake no Kiyomaro (733 – 799) to the Usa Shrine to receive a divine message. This message endeared Wake to future emperors of Japan for it stated that only those descended from Amaterasu (the Sun Goddess) could be emperor. Dōkyō used his influence to get Empress Shōtoku to banish Wake no Kiyomaro. After Empress Shōtoku died in 770, Dōkyō was ousted, stripped of his titles, and banished.

As a result of Dōkyō’s actions, empresses were disfavored, the ruling elites, particularly the Fujiwara clan became more jealous of their power, and Emperor Kanmu, her successor, decided to move the capital from Nara.

Among the legends of Japan is that Dōkyō was rumored to have a macropenis. The legend has been so persistent over the centuries that a ground beetle with a penis about the third of its length has been named Dōkyō Osamushi in his honor.