The court rank was conferred on only civil subjects; the Imperial family were not entitled to the conferment of court ranks. (Those who lost their status as a member of the Imperial family enjoyed the conferment of court ranks.)
また、位階は臣民にのみ与えられ、皇族を叙位することはない（ただし、皇籍を離脱した者は叙位の対象となる）。