The selection of shoden was made with each change of emperor, and selected persons, after receiving a senji (imperial decree) called shoden no senji and having their names written on a kan (board), were given shoden permission and allowed to stay in a denjo no ma if necessary.
昇殿は天皇の代替わりごとに選定が行われ、昇殿宣旨（しょうでんのせんじ）と呼ばれる宣旨を受けて、殿上の間に備えられた簡（札）に氏名が記されることで昇殿が認められ、必要に応じて殿上の間に詰めることが許されていた。