Compared with the other Six Palace Guards, the Middle Palace Guard was assigned especially to important tasks, such as escorting the Emperor or keeping a night watch in the Imperial Palace so, it functioned virtually as a 'bodyguard.'
天皇の護衛や内裏内における夜間の宿直も担当するなど六衛府の中でも最も宮廷の中枢部を担当した言わば「親衛隊」的な役割を果たした。