Many emperors prior to Emperor Gosanjo also planned and implemented a series of policies called 'new policies,' being intended for establishment of sovereignty and the revival of ritsuryo legal codes, which they enacted immediately after succeeding to the throne; but Emperor Gosanjo conducted active policies, including Enkyu-no Shoen Seiri-rei (an order given in the Enkyu era to consolidate manors) (in 1069), supported by his advantage of not having Sekkan-ke as his cognates.
後三条天皇以前の天皇の多くも即位した直後に、王権の確立と律令の復興を企図して「新政」と称した一連の政策を企画実行していたが、後三条天皇は外戚に摂関家を持たない強みも背景として、延久の荘園整理令（1069年）などより積極的な政策展開を行った。