Moreover, by doing deeds of arms in a war or passing an examination of monjosho (student of literary studies in the Imperial University), myobosho (student of law studies in the Imperial University) and others, some of them were promoted from no rank, however, even if so, the highest rank was Fourth and they could hardly be promoted higher than it (In most cases, it is believed that they stayed at initial rank, where their descentands were not given the qualification of Ishi.)
更に戦争での武勲や文章生・明法生などの学生に及第することによって、無位から昇進することもあったが四位がほぼ最高位であり、それ以上の昇進はほぼなかった（多くの場合は子孫に位子の資格が与えられない初位に留まったとされる。)