There were times when either the Southern or the Ceremonial Houses prospered, but they both fell into decline during the early Heian period as a result of political conflicts and internal rebellions, after which the Northern House came to enjoy the greatest prosperity.
一時期においては南家や式家が栄えた時期もあったが、政争や一族の反乱で平安時代前期には衰退し、代わって最も栄えたのは北家である。