On the surface it appeared that the government was ruled by two political forces with no conflict, ("Gu kan sho (A Selection of the Opinions of a Fool)"), however the fighting between the parties was more complicated; the situation was as if 'both were scared of each other and were in fear, although their fighting could not be seen on the surface but was like walking on the thin glass.' ("the Tale of the Heike")
表面的には「院・内申シ合ツツ同ジ御心ニテ」（『愚管抄』）二頭政治が行われたが、両派の対立は深く「上下おそれをののいてやすい心なし、ただ深淵にのぞむで薄氷をふむに同じ」（『平家物語』）という状況であった。