After the Taisei Hokan (transfer of power back to the emperor), as the Mori clan was conferred the title of duke, which was the highest position of the peerage, they no longer took orders from the Tokugawa clan or received portions of the names from anyone.
大政奉還後、華族最高位の公爵を叙爵された毛利氏は、身分的に徳川氏の風下に立つことはなくなり、誰からも偏諱を受けることはなくなった。