After the establishment of Gosekke (five top Fujiwara families whose members were eligible for the positions of sessho [regent] and kanpaku [the chief advisor of the emperor]), a set of the government post of sessho or kanpaku, the position of To-shi choja (head of the Fujiwara clan) and watari-ryo (or denka no watari-ryo, which was the land the Fujiwara family hereditary succeeded) were passed round among the heads of the Gosekke families.
五摂家の確立以後、摂関の官職・藤氏長者の地位・渡領（殿下渡領）がセットで五摂家の当主間を交替で移動した。