After the Kamakura period, the main branch of the Northern FUJIWARA family split into the Konoe and Kujo families at the top, with Ichijo, Nijo and Takatsukasa families to make five regent families, and in successive generations the highest ranking among them was customarily appointed Sessho/Kampaku, continuing until the Meiji Restoration.
鎌倉時代以降、藤原北家の本流は近衛家、九条家を筆頭に一条家・二条家・鷹司家の五摂家に分かれ、代々そのうちもっとも官位の高い者が摂政・関白に任ぜられることが慣例となり、明治維新まで続いた。