The Emperor's father-in-law, FUJIWARA no Tadahira, continued to work as a chancellor (chief cabinet advisor to the Emperor) from the previous Emperor's era, since after Tadahira died in 949 there was no one appointed as a regent so a chancellor and the Emperor ruled the government directly; this became Imperial House Law, followed by the Engi period.
先代に続いて天皇の外舅藤原忠平が関白を務めたが、天暦3年（949年）に忠平が亡くなるとそれ以降摂関を置かず、延喜時代とともに天皇親政の典範とされた。