Under the Senjoryo (the regulations for the recruitment and promotion of government officials), when government officials (nobles) of Jugoinoge (Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade) and over wished to resign his positions, they had to get the Emperor's permission; so it became a custom that they wrote a Jihyo when nobles resigned from government posts.
選叙令に従五位下以上の官人（貴族）が致仕する場合には必ず上表をして天皇の許可を得ることとなっていたため、貴族が官職を退く際には辞表が行われるようになった。