Among the four theatres, Kanze and Hosho (which advanced from Nara to Kyoto) are called Kami-gakari, while Komparu and Kongo (which continued to be based in Nara for their activities) are called Shimo-gakari.
四座のうち奈良から京都に進出した観世、宝生を上掛り（かみがかり）と呼び、引き続き奈良を根拠地とした金春、金剛を下掛り（しもがかり）と呼ぶ。