A point of differentiation between the Otona and satanin was that the members of the Otona were selected by seniority from among the members of the soson, but the satanin was selected from among people who acted as executers on behalf of a lord or a shokan, and its position was transferred by heredity.
乙名が惣村の構成員から年功序列で選出されたのに対し、沙汰人は領主・荘官の執行人という職を出自とし、またその地位を世襲していた点で異なっていた。