The chief nuns were often produced by Imperial Family, Sekkan-ke (the families which produced regents), other Court nobles and Ashikaga Shogun family (in Kamakura, Kamakura kubo (shogunate) family instead of it).
住持には皇室や摂関家以下有力公家、足利将軍家（鎌倉では鎌倉公方家）などから輩出される事が多かった。