Like Shi, Geki was originally a high ranking post to serve as a stepping-stone toward higher posts for low ranking officials who excelled at Confucianism and writing; but after the Kamakura period, the post was inherited by the Funabashi family (Kiyohara clan) and the Oshikoji family (Nakahara clan), both of which were families that had produced Myogyodo scholars for generations, and some members were appointed to Kokusoin betto which had been traditionally held by the nobles.
本来は顕官の1つとして史_(律令制)とともに儒学・文筆に優れた下級官人が任じられて昇進への足がかりとする役職であったが、鎌倉時代以後には明経道の家柄であった舟橋家（清原氏）・押小路家（中原氏）両家の世襲となり、また従来は公卿が任じられていた穀倉院別当に任命されるものもいた。