After the Cloistered Imperial Prince Kanin, the seventh Prince of the Emperor Gofushimi, entered the Kanshu-ji Temple and was assigned to the fifteenth chori (Monzeki) during the end of the Kamakura period, Imperial Princes were assigned to the successive chori and given the title of miya-monzeki (head priest born of the Imperial Family).
鎌倉時代末期には、後伏見天皇第7皇子寛胤法親王が勧修寺に入寺して15世長吏（門跡）に就任以降は、明治維新までは、代々の長吏には、皇室より親王を迎えて、宮門跡が補されていた。