Kiyohira tried to expand his territory based in Toyota Mansion in Esashi County (now in Oshu City), while securing his position as a ruler of Ou region (now Tohoku region) by deepening his relationship with the Fujiwara clan in Kyoto by means such as presenting horses to Kanpaku (imperial regent) FUJIWARA no Morozane in 1091, by paying taxes on behalf of Otakayama-jinja Shrine in Shibata County and Kattamine-jinja Shrine in Katta County, and so on.
清衡は本拠地を江刺郡豊田館（現奥州市）に構え勢力の拡大を図る一方、寛治5年（1091年）に関白藤原師実に貢馬するなど京都の藤原氏と交誼を深め、また柴田郡の大高山神社・刈田郡刈田嶺神社の年貢金を代納する等して、奥羽の統治者としての地位を築いた。