In the middle of the 9th century Fujiwara no Yoshifusa declared himself regent to Emperor Seiwa-his young grandson-the Fujiwara clan dominated court politics until the end of the 11th century, through strategic marriages of Fujiwara daughters into the imperial family and the use of regencies.
Four years later Michinaga sent Shōshi, his eldest daughter, to Emperor Ichijō's harem when she was about 12 [REF].