All the families belonging to the local ruling class in Japan in the Insei period (the period of the government by a retired emperor) tried to extend their influence as warriors of the retired emperors, receiving the protection from those powerful figures in the center by donating them their estates.
院政時代全国の在地支配層は、こぞって中央の有力者に荘園を寄進してその庇護を受け、院の武者として勢力を拡大しようとした。