Dokyo was likely born into the Yuge clan, a family connected to provincial administration in early Nara Japan. His early life unfolded as the imperial court in Nara promoted Buddhism to strengthen state authority and ritual legitimacy.

As a young man, Dokyo became a monk and trained in disciplinary rules, sutra study, and esoteric rituals that were gaining prestige. He built a reputation for practical religious services, aligning monastic learning with courtly needs for protection rites.

Dokyo became known for combining Buddhist incantations with healing practices valued by aristocrats and officials. In a period of epidemics and political unrest, such ritual expertise made monks important intermediaries between the court and the divine.

Through temple connections and patronage, Dokyo moved closer to circles that served the imperial household. His standing rose as major institutions around Tōdai-ji and related temples competed for influence in state ceremonies and appointments.

Dokyo was called to attend Empress Koken when she suffered a serious illness, and his treatments were credited with aiding her recovery. This success brought him intimate access to the sovereign and quickly elevated his political significance at court.

After Koken's recovery, Dokyo received high titles and privileges unusual for a monk, provoking resentment among secular nobles. His influence reflected how religious charisma could translate into administrative power within the Nara state.

When Koken resumed the throne as Empress Shotoku, conflict erupted with Fujiwara no Nakamaro, who sought to control succession and policy. Dokyo backed Shotoku's regime as forces suppressed the revolt, tightening his grip over court decision-making afterward.

Dokyo was promoted to extraordinary offices, including roles comparable to chancellor, placing a monk atop the political hierarchy. Court opponents saw these appointments as a dangerous fusion of Buddhist authority and imperial administration under Shotoku's patronage.

With imperial backing, Dokyo influenced temple appointments and state-sponsored rites intended to protect the realm and legitimate Shotoku's rule. His network linked court offices, major monasteries, and provincial shrines, creating a broad base of institutional leverage.

Dokyo encouraged projects that increased the prestige and resources of Buddhist establishments tied to the court. These moves intensified rivalry with hereditary aristocrats who feared that monastic power would eclipse clan-based governance and succession norms.

An oracle from Hachiman at Usa Shrine was reported to support Dokyo becoming sovereign, a claim that shocked many courtiers. Wake no Kiyomaro was dispatched to verify the message, and his report rejected Dokyo's elevation, curbing the bid for the throne.

After the oracle dispute, tensions sharpened between Dokyo's supporters and officials defending imperial lineage principles. Wake no Kiyomaro faced punishment and exile, illustrating how dangerous it was to oppose the monk's influence while Shotoku still reigned.

Empress Shotoku died, removing Dokyo's crucial patron and leaving him exposed to rivals at court. The new regime under Emperor Konin moved swiftly to dismantle his authority, signaling a political return to lineage-centered rule.

Dokyo was removed from Nara and sent into exile, losing titles that had made him the most powerful monk in Japan. His fall served as a warning about clerics pursuing sovereign authority and accelerated efforts to limit monastic intrusion into governance.

In exile, Dokyo remained a monk but no longer shaped national policy, living under close watch by local officials. Stories about his ambition circulated in court histories, framing him as a cautionary example in debates over Buddhism and state power.

Dokyo died away from the capital, his career remembered through hostile chronicles and later moralizing accounts. His rise and fall influenced subsequent rulers to separate clerical authority from succession politics, shaping Japan's long-term statecraft.