The traditional authority of the Imperial Court was restored as a result of various events including the signing of commercial treaties with foreign countries, and the policy of kobu-gattai (reconciliation between the Imperial Court and the Shogunate) was adopted through cooperation between the Shogunate and Court.
江戸時代後期には、諸外国との通商条約の締結などを巡って、朝廷の伝統的権威が復興し、幕府と朝廷の提携による公武合体政策が取られた。