In 1086, Shirakawa abdicated to Imperial Prince Taruhito (Emperor Horikawa), who was then eight years old; he named himself Shirakawa-in and became Dajo Emperor (Joko), but to oversee the young Emperor he continued the conduct of political affairs.
白河は応徳3年（1086年）に当時8歳の善仁皇子（堀河天皇）へ譲位し太上天皇（上皇）となったが、幼帝を後見するため白川院と称して、引き続き政務に当たった。