However, the Honganji Buddhist sect was founded much later than the Buddhist sects founded by other schools of the Jodo Shinshu sect following Shinran's death, and Hongan-ji Temple was still considered a branch temple of Shorenin at the beginning of the Muromachi period; it is said that because of their ties with the Hino family (Shinran's family), the Otani Family performed similar management duties to those performed by the Kujo Family.
だが、親鸞死後より教団形成に努めてきた他の浄土真宗の系統に比べて教団形成は大きく出遅れ、室町時代前期の本願寺は青蓮院の末寺とされ、大谷家としては日野家（親鸞の実家）の縁で九条家の家司に准じた事も行っていたと言われている。