Emperor Gosanjo died before his plan could be realized, his male successor, directly in line, Emperor Shirakawa abided by Emperor Gosanjo's will and he became the retired Emperor and started the Cloistered government to rule politics as the actual Emperor (Chiten no Kimi).
後三条はその実現の前に没したが、その直系男子の白河天皇は後三条の遺志を継いで、上皇となって事実上の国王（治天の君）として政務に当たる院政を開始した。