The Cloistered Emperor Shirakawa had supreme power, but it was said he mented that, he has no control over the following three things: 1. Waters of the Kamo River (tributary of the Yodo River)(due to its flow and frequent flooding); 2. Dice used in sugoroku (different from current sugoroku, close to western backgammon), which was popular way of gambling at that time, with spots on the dice selecting winners/losers; and 3. Yamaboshi (monk soldiers from Mt. Hie Enryaku-ji Temple), which show that SHIRAKAWA had absolute control apart from these three things.
白河法皇が「天下の三不如意―鴨川(淀川水系)（鴨川）の水（鴨川の流れとそれによる水害）・双六の賽（サイコロ、当時の双六（ただし、現在のものと違い西洋のバックギャモンに近い）は賭博の手段として盛んに用いられて、さいころの目の動きが勝敗を分けた）・山法師（比叡山延暦寺の僧衆〔僧兵〕）」だけはどうしようもないと嘆いたという故事は、裏を返せば彼がそれ以外のものであれば思い通りにならない事はないという絶大な権力を誇っていたことを示している。