Furthermore, as indicated by the saying "a retainer's retainer is not a retainer," "a retainer's retainer" did not have the master to servant relationship with "a master's master," therefore, a complicated power structure was formed.
更に「臣下の臣下は臣下でない」という語に示されるように、直接に主従関係を結んでいなければ「臣下の臣下」は「主君の主君」に対して主従関係を形成しなかった為、複雑な権力構造が形成された。