According to the views heretofore asserted, the office of In-no-Ho-kumen (literally, the north side of the ex-Emperor's palace). has been held to have been founded by the ex-Emperor Shirakawa with the intention of anticipating his programme of In-Sei (government by the ex-Emperor). Therefore its foundaion is of deep significance. But these views are not correct.
In-no-Hokumen at the time of its foundation had no definite functions, nor was there any standard in existence by which to appoint its members. The fact was only that those who had some connexion with the ex-Emperor were called by him and served him with regards to his personal routine work. But, in the later Heian-period, the so-called Bushi (Knights) came to be appointed to these posts, the title "Hokumen-no-Bushi (Knights who held posts in the In-no-Hokumen) " came into existence, and the In-no-Hokumen naturally played a part in promoting the influence of the ex-Emperor. The character of the In-no-Hokumen thus made a complete change in comparison with that of the same office at the time, of its foundation. Therefore the foundation of the In-no-Hokumen is, in its situation, completely different from '.that of the Sehnen-no-Bushi (Knights who held posts in the west side of the ex-Emperor's palace) by. the ex-Emperor Gotoba. The foundation of the Seimen-no-Bushi by the ex-Emperor Gotoba was inspired by the later In-no-Hokumen which had already completely changed its character.
