In the Edo period, the term was used for Tokugawa gosanke (three privileged branches of Tokugawa family), for Gosankyo (three privileged branches of Tokugawa family), and for the heir of shogun against a child from a legally unwedded wife of shogun.
江戸時代には徳川御三家・御三卿や将軍庶子に対する将軍の嫡子に対して用いられた。