After examining the above three level of ranks, they present a distinct focus: the highest-ranking aristocrats held the major privileges, the middle-ranking aristocrats held the minor privileges, and the lowest-ranking aristocrats held no privileges. These different ranks were instrumental for characterising the status and prestige of an aristocrat at court. However, the possession of rank performed another important function. Apart from characterising the status and prestige of an aristocrat, the possession of rank was the main criterion for an aristocrat to be recognised as yoki hito, which means a ‘person of quality’ or ‘good person’ of the court. Therefore, to uphold their appearance as yoki hito, the life of an aristocrat revolved around