The court rank was designed mainly for princes without the title of Shinno (Imperial Prince), members of the Imperial family, and their subjects, but after the Meiji period in which the Ritsuryo codes were abolished, the court rank became a rank of honor which was bestowed upon those who had been government officials or those who had performed significant services.
位階は主に王(皇族)および人臣が対象であり、人臣の位階については律令法が廃止された明治時代以降は、官吏であった者や特に功績のあった者などに与えられる栄典の一つとなった。