There were three major different types of Hyo: Gahyo (handed at celebratory occasions such as Emperor's Genpuku [coming of age], investitures of the Empress or the Crown Prince and Sakutan Toji [celebration when the winter solstice falls on November 1 of the lunar calendar. Once in 19 years, this is an auspicious day and has been celebrated at the court]), Kohyo (handed when the Emperor's family members wished to decline the Emperor's offer of abdication of the throne or people to decline the offers of privileges such as Fuko [salary] or Zuishin [having bodyguards]) and Jihyo (handed when people wished to resign or leave their government posts).
表は大きく分けると、天皇の元服、立后、立太子や朔旦冬至などの慶事に奉られる賀表（がひょう）、天皇から皇親への譲位や封戸・随身などの特権など天皇から賜る恩恵を辞退する際に奉られる抗表（こうひょう）、官職辞任・致仕する際に奉られる辞表（じひょう）の3種類があった。