Under the Kani junikai (12 grades of cap rank) of Prince Shotoku, a dress code for those who attended the Imperial Court was established, and this was followed by frequent sumptuary laws which were, at first, mainly aimed at nobles and government officials (especially those of low to medium rank).
聖徳太子の冠位十二階でも朝廷に出仕する者の服装規定が定められ、以後も度々奢侈禁止令が出されたが、当初はその対象は主に貴族・官人層であった。