Under the ritsuryo system (a system of centralized government based on the ritsuryo code), ranks higher than Jusanmi were called 'Ki' as well as Hoshi no kurai (positions of stars), and were the ranks for Kugyo (the top court officials).
律令制下においては、従三位以上を『貴』と称し、また星の位ともいわれ、公卿の位階であった。