Therefore, the written code of family tradition, which was called kakun (family motto), kaken (family code) or kaho (family rules), had been prepared since the early days in those families including court nobles and warrior households and was regarded as the principle that should be followed by all family members headed by the family head.
そのために公家や武家においては早くから家訓・家憲・家法などと呼ばれる家風の成文法化が進められ、当主以下構成員が守るべき原則とされてきた。