As FUJIWARA no Yorinaga criticized his brother, Ieakira, being 'shodaibu no senjo' (a low ranking official who was promoted ｑuickly) when Ieakira was appointed sashosho (Major General of the left), inner palace guard was a position held by an upper class nobleman.
藤原頼長が永治元年（1141年）、成親の兄・家明が左少将になったことを「諸大夫の僣上」と非難しているように、近衛は本来なら上流貴族の官職だった。