The Higo Domain was divided into three factions according to their education policies, namely, the Gakko-to party (school party) focusing on education based on the doctrines of Zhu Xi in domain schools, the Jitsugaku-to party (practical learning party) emphasizing the relation between education and politics, advocated by Shonan YOKOI and others, and the Kinno-to party (pro-Imperial party with Gensai KAWAKAMI, Tomoo OGURODA, Harukata KAYA and others) emphasizing education based on the study of Japanese literature and culture and Shintoism, founded by Oen HAYASHI.
肥後藩では、教育方針をめぐり3派閥に分かれており、藩校での朱子学教育を中心とする学校党、横井小楠らが提唱した教育と政治の結びつきを重視する実学党、林桜園を祖とする国学・神道を基本とした教育を重視する勤皇党（河上彦斎・太田黒伴雄・加屋霽堅ら）が存在した。