Rinji ("綸旨" in Chinese characters) originally stood for "Ringen no Mune" ("綸言の旨" in Chinese characters), and meant the Emperor's intention itself; however, in and after the mid Heian period, Rinji came to mean hosho (a document for informing lower rank people of the decision of upper people such as an emperor or shogun) which contained elements of an official document created and issued by Kurodo based on an imperial decree given orally by the Emperor.
綸旨とは本来は「綸言の旨」の略であり、天皇の意そのものを指していたが、平安時代中期以後は天皇の口宣を元にして蔵人が作成・発給した公文書の要素を持った奉書を指すようになった。