In 1160, Kiyomori was appointed to shosanmi sangi (senior third rank royal advisor) that no other military aristocrats could be appointed to, and was then appointed to daijo-daijin (Grand Minister of State) in 1167.
清盛は、1160年にそれまでの軍事貴族が就きえなかった正三位参議になると、1167年には太政大臣にまで昇り詰めた。