Tenka-bito as the vassal of the Imperial Court governed the country in two ways: as a military officer such as Seiitaishogun (commander-in-chief of the expeditionary force against the barbarians, great, unifying leader) and as a civil officer such as Kanpaku (chief adviser to the Emperor) and Daijo-daijin (Grand Minister); however, to holding such a position was not necessarily a requirement of a tenka-bito.
朝廷の臣下としての天下人は、征夷大将軍のような武官コースを取る場合と、関白・太政大臣といった文官コースを取る場合とがあったが、それは関係のないことであり、一定のポストに就かなければ天下人と見られないわけではない。