At that time, the Imperial Court was alternatively ruled by the Jimyo-in Imperial line (the imperial line of Emperor Gofukakusa) and the Daikaku-ji Imperial line (the imperial line of Emperor Kameyama); Saionji family was connected to both of them by marriage.
当時、朝廷は持明院統と大覚寺統の両統が交互に政務を担当する両統迭立の状態にあったが、西園寺家は両統双方と姻戚関係を結んでいた。