In a Shinden style residence during the Heian period, a private living quarters called 'Kitanotai' was built north of and separated from 'Shinden,' which was the main hall and was used semi-publicly, and in that quarter, its master called 'Kitanokata' who was the legally wedded wife controlled all of the houshold affairs.
平安時代の寝殿造の邸宅では、半ば公の場所でもあった正殿の「寝殿」（しんでん）とは別に、その北に「北対」（きたのたい）という私的な居住空間があり、そこでは主の正室である「北の方」が家政の諸事万端を決裁していた。