On the other hand, the view that insei started before the reign of Emperor Gosanjo has become more prevalent in recent years, since it is increasingly apparent that Emperor Uda conducted virtual insei after he abdicated to Emperor Daigo to become Hoo (法皇) as the result of the new Emperor's illness, and based on the view that Emperor Enyu was opposed to Kaneie FUJIWARA, a regent and his maternal grandfather, since Enyu tried to participate in political affairs after his abdication and succession of the throne by his son, Emperor Ichijo.
その一方で、近年では宇多天皇が醍醐天皇に譲位して法皇となった後に天皇の病気に伴って実質上の院政を行っていた事が明らかになった事や、円融天皇が退位後に息子の一条天皇が皇位を継ぐと政務を見ようとしたために外祖父である摂政藤原兼家と対立していたという説もあり、院政の嚆矢を後三条天皇よりも以前に見る説が有力となっている。