However, Kiyomori had been treated as an imperial prince since his childhood, and his rank was Jugoinoge (Junior Fifth Rank, Lower Grade) when he was 11 years old at the ceremony of his coming of age, Jushiinoge (Junior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade) at age 17, and Shoshiinoge (Senior Fourth Rank, Lower Grade) at 10 years before the Hogen Rebellion, and he was almost Kugyo (the top court official), while Yoshitomo was rewarded by being named Jugoinoge and kokushu of Shimotsuke Province as Zuryo (the highest official of province) just before the Hogen Rebellion.
しかし、清盛は少年の頃より親王にも等しい待遇を受け、11歳で元服と同時に叙爵されて従五位下、17歳にして既に従四位下にまで官位を上げ、保元の乱の10年も前に正四位下となり公卿の地位の一歩手前にまで達しており、対して義朝は保元の乱の直前に叙爵されて従五位下・下野守となりようやく受領レベルとなった。