The major Shugo daimyos referred to as Sankan--the Hosokawa clan, Shiba clan and Hatakeyama clan--assumed the position of control and supported the Shogun, while the Akamatsu clan, Isshiki clan, Yamana clan and Kyogoku clan, as Shishiki, assumed by turns the position of Shoshi, the chief of Samurai-dokoro.
将軍を補佐する管領には細川氏、斯波氏、畠山氏の三管とよばれる有力守護大名が交替で、侍所長官である所司には赤松氏、一色氏、山名氏、京極氏の四職が交替で就任した。