When Motofusa MATSUDONO, the founder of the house, was the Senior Regent of the Emperor Takakura in 1179, the conflict between the retired Emperor Shirakawa and Taira no Kiyomori reached its peak with Taira no Kiyomori imprisoning the retired Emperor and exiling his senior officials, whereafter Motofusa, who had become involved, was demoted to Dazai-no-Gonnosotsu, Deputy Governor of Dazaifu, and left, mired in disappointment, to become a priest at the age of 36.
初代である松殿基房が高倉天皇の関白だった1179年、後白河天皇と平清盛の対立が頂点に達し、ついに清盛が法皇の幽閉と高官達の追放を断行、それに巻き込まれた基房も大宰権帥へと左遷となり、失意の内に36歳の若さで出家してしまう。