During the days of Emperor Shirakawa and Emperor Toba, the Kan-in Line wielded their enormous power, effectively monopolizing the all positions as maternal relatives of the retired emperor and the emperor.
閑院流は、白河天皇・鳥羽天皇期に上皇・天皇の外戚たる地位をほぼ独占し、院近親として絶大な権勢をふるった。