Under the Kamakura bakufu (Japanese feudal government headed by a shogun) and the Muromachi bakufu (Japanese feudal government headed by a shogun), kudashibumi (edict from a senior official in government or military which had the status of a binding official document) from the shogun family or Mandokoro were buninjo while autographic signature, Shuinjo(a shogunal license for foreign trade), kokuinjyo were used by shugo daimyo (shugo, which were Japanese provincial military governors, that became daimyo, which were Japanese feudal lords), daimyo (Japanese territorial lord) in the Sengoku period, and under the Edo bakufu (Japanese feudal government headed by a shogun).
鎌倉幕府・室町幕府では将軍家もしくは政所の下文が補任状であったが、守護大名・戦国大名そして江戸幕府では判物・朱印状・黒印状などによって行われている。